Bima Sugam: IRDAI's one-stop insurance marketplace
Bima Sugam is a planned single digital marketplace where you will be able to buy, renew, service, and file claims across all life, health, and general insurers from one place, free of cost. IRDAI approved its governing regulations in March 2024, and it is being set up as a not-for-profit company. Important: as of mid-2026 it is not yet live for consumer transactions. It is rolling out in phases, so treat this as a guide to what is coming, not a portal you can use today.
Looking to buy or claim now? Bima Sugam is not yet open to the public. Use your insurer or a licensed intermediary in the meantime.
What Bima Sugam is meant to do
Bima Sugam is designed as a unified, regulator-backed platform that connects insurers, agents, brokers, and customers. The goals are:
- Buy and compare policies across insurers in one place.
- Renew and service existing policies, including updates and endorsements.
- File and track claims digitally, with a single view of your cover.
- A Bima Sugam ID to hold your policies electronically.
- Free access for consumers, with the platform run as a non-profit.
The legal basis and structure
IRDAI approved the IRDAI (Bima Sugam - Insurance Electronic Marketplace) Regulations, 2024 at its Authority meeting on 19 March 2024. The marketplace is to be run by a Section 8 not-for-profit company (a company that exists for a public purpose, not to make a profit for owners), so it serves the ecosystem rather than any single insurer.
Rollout status in 2026
| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Regulations approved | Done, 19 March 2024 |
| Operating entity set up | In progress |
| Consumer transactions live | Not yet, as of mid-2026 |
| Phased product rollout | Expected during 2026, segment by segment |
Bima Sugam has been announced and re-planned several times. The honest position is that the regulations exist and the entity is being built, but a full consumer-facing transactional portal is not open yet. Watch for official IRDAI announcements before relying on it.
What you can do today instead
- Buy or renew through your insurer's own website, an agent, or a licensed web aggregator.
- Keep policies in one place using your existing demat-style insurance repository (e-Insurance Account) if you have one.
- For a claim, follow your insurer's current process and timelines.
- For a grievance, use the insurer's grievance cell and then IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal.
A simple scenario
Lakshmi in Coimbatore reads that Bima Sugam will let her manage her family's health, term, and car policies from one app. She wants to start now. The reality in 2026 is that the consumer portal is not yet live, so she continues to renew through her insurers and keeps the idea in mind. When IRDAI announces the public launch, she plans to consolidate her policies under a single Bima Sugam ID.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bima Sugam live and can I use it now?
Not yet. As of mid-2026 the consumer-facing transactional portal is not open to the public. The regulations were approved in March 2024 and the operating entity is being set up, with a phased rollout expected. For now, use your insurer or a licensed intermediary.
What will Bima Sugam let me do?
It is designed as a single marketplace to buy, compare, renew, service, and claim policies across all insurers, with a Bima Sugam ID to hold your policies electronically. Access is meant to be free for consumers, with the platform run on a not-for-profit basis.
Who runs Bima Sugam?
It is being set up as a Section 8 not-for-profit company under regulations approved by IRDAI on 19 March 2024. A not-for-profit structure means it serves the insurance ecosystem and consumers rather than generating profit for private owners.
Will Bima Sugam be free to use?
The platform is intended to be free for consumers. The design connects insurers and intermediaries on a common marketplace so that customers can transact without paying a platform fee. Confirm final terms at the official launch.
How do I buy insurance until Bima Sugam launches?
Use your insurer's website, a licensed agent or broker, or a registered web aggregator. For complaints, use the insurer's grievance cell and then IRDAI's Bima Bharosa grievance portal if it is not resolved.
Where will I get official launch news?
From IRDAI and the official Bima Sugam entity. Be cautious of look-alike sites or agents claiming early access, and verify any portal against IRDAI's official announcements before sharing personal or payment details.
Sources
- IRDAI (Bima Sugam - Insurance Electronic Marketplace) Regulations, 2024, approved at the IRDAI Authority meeting on 19 March 2024.
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, irdai.gov.in.
Related reading
- The RTI Playbook for questioning public insurers and regulators.
To seek a record from a public insurer, use the AI RTI Drafter and the First Appeal Builder. See the RTI Act, 2005.
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