Career as LIC Assistant

LIC stands for Life Insurance Corporation of India and is one of the most prestigious insurance organizations in India. LIC conducts an exam called LIC Assistant to recruit clerks. It is one of the most anticipated upcoming government exams. Aspirants should keep checking the official website to get updates regarding this exam. There are three stages in the selection procedure of LIC Assistants, prelims, mains, and language proficiency tests. LIC announced 7919 vacancies for the post of LIC Assistant last year. The candidates must ensure that they fulfill the eligibility criteria before applying for this exam. 

Eligibility criteria

Age limit: Minimum age is 18 years and the maximum age limit is 30 years. The age relaxation for different categories are as follows:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC: 3 years
• PwBD (General): 10 years
• PwBD (SC/ST): 15 years
• PwBD (OBC): 13 years
• Ex-serviceman: Maximum age limit of 45 years

Educational qualification: The candidates must refer to the official notification uploaded on the website of LIC  to check the educational requirements. It is a very important criterion for the candidates. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree of pattern 10+2+3  from a recognised university in India. 

Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens. Proof of nationality (ID card) is required for the application process and also for the different stages of the exam.

Exam pattern and syllabus

• Screening test: This is an objective type test and it contains 100 questions. Each question carries +1 marks. Candidates will be shortlisted for the mains exam based on the score obtained in sections 2 and 3 of the prelims exam. The details of the prelims exam are summarised in the table below:

Syllabus: The topics included in the different subjects are as follows:

1. English: Cloze test, fill in the blanks, error detection, reading comprehension, para jumbles, error correction.
2. Numerical ability: Data sufficiency, quadratic equations, quantity-based questions, data interpretation, approximation, simplification, number series.
3. Reasoning ability: Data sufficiency, decoding, coding, syllogism, inequality, number series, alphanumeric series, puzzles, sitting arrangements.

• Mains: Candidates who score above a certain cutoff in the prelims exam are eligible for the mains exam. The syllabus for the mains exam is similar to that of the prelims exams but covers broader aspects. The syllabus for the mains exam varies in different zones. Make sure to check the syllabus and go through it thoroughly. The details about the pattern of the mains exam are summarised in the table below:

• Language proficiency test: Candidates need to go through a language proficiency test after qualifying in the prelims and the mains exam. After the language test,  they need to go through a medical test, after which they will be assigned to the post of LIC Assistant.
• Medical test: After successfully passing the language proficiency test, the candidates are required to undergo a medical test after which they can join the post of LIC Assistant. 

Salary

The salary of a LIC Assistant is Rs 14,435 per month according to the 7th pay commission. The final gross pay (excluding promotion) is Rs 40,080 per month. Therefore, the gross annual pay comes around 3 to 3.4 lakhs per annum. 

Allowance

The LIC Assistant is eligible for the following allowances:

• House rent allowance
• Medical allowance
• Provident fund
• Transportation allowance
• Stationary allowance

Probation period 

The probation period is the time a qualified candidate must give before becoming a permanent employee in the organization for government jobs. The probation period for LIC Assistant is 1 year from the date of joining. This can also extend up to 2 years if any such changes are made. After the probation period is over, the candidate can enjoy the perks and benefits of this position. 

LIC Assistant perks and other benefits:

The LIC Assistants receive other perks and benefits in addition to their salaries according to the rules and regulations of the LIC. Some of these are as follows:

• House rent allowance (HRA): The LIC Assistant can get 7%, 8%, or 9% of the basic pay as HRA depending on the city where they are posted. It is higher for metropolitan cities. 
• City compensatory allowance (CCA): Depending on the job location, CCA could be 0%, 3%, or 4% of the basic pay of the LIC Assistant.
• Dearness allowance (DA): This is 40% percent of the basic pay. DA is revised on a quarterly basis and it depends on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which again depends on the inflation rates. Since inflation rates keep changing, so does the DA.
• Insurance allowance: This includes vehicle loans, group personal accident insurance, etc. 
• Lunch allowance: Some fixed amount is paid as lunch allowance. Meal coupons up to Rs 30,000 are provided in class ‘A’ city. 
• Defined contributory pensions, LTC, Gratuity, etc.

Job profile

The roles and responsibilities of LIC Assistants are as follows:

• They perform various duties of the clerical staff like single window operator, cashier, customer service executive, etc.
• LIC Assistants manage cash counters. They are responsible for processing and sanctioning files assigned to them by the Assistant Managers.
• They must address the customer grievances.
• They also perform back-office work, account-related work, etc., as assigned by the Assistant Manager.
• The LIC Assistant handles online and offline transactions.
• They must review and process insurance documents and ensure that the documents are complete.
• LIC Assistants are required to manage sales and other documents related to claims, settlements, policies, accounts, etc.

Career growth and promotion

Based on internal requirements in LIC, LIC Assistants are promoted. Their work experiences and performances are also considered. People with good performance records are promoted earlier than others. Their performance is continuously evaluated and tracked.