Most Indian households hold policies across three or four insurers, each with its own login, KYC file and renewal reminder. Bima Pehchaan is meant to end that. It is a single digital insurance identity, issued once and held for life. It includes every policy a person owns.
A Single ID for Every Policy Held
Bima Pehchaan is the identity layer of Bima Sugam, an insurance electronic marketplace created under IRDAI regulations. The platform is run by the Bima Sugam India Federation, a not-for-profit company set up under Section 8 of the Companies Act. Ownership remains with the insurers themselves, held collectively across the life, general and health sides of the industry. BSIF has an authorised capital of ₹500 crore and paid-up capital of around ₹310 crore, with shareholding spread across those three groups
The stated aim of introducing Bima Pehchaan is to make insurance more accessible, affordable and accountable, and to support the national goal of Insurance for All by 2047. The ID is linked to Aadhaar, PAN, and a mobile number and once issued, it stays with the holder permanently.
Why the Bima Pehchaan ID Exists
Bima Pehchaan ID is meant to remove repetition. Right now, buying a policy from a new insurer means fresh identity checks and paperwork every time. Under Bima Sugam, one round of Aadhaar-based KYC produces the ID, and every insurer on the platform accepts that verified identity afterwards. Someone who buys five policies from five insurers over a decade links them all to the same ID without repeating the process.
Alongside the ID sits the e-Bima account, described as a demat account for insurance. It holds policy documents digitally, and for every linked policy in one dashboard it shows:
- Sum assured
- Premium amounts
- Expiry dates
- Claim history
- Nominee details
Registration is free for individuals. BSIF recovers its costs from insurers and intermediaries instead, with insurers expected to pay a platform fee of around 5 to 7% in place of the commission that would otherwise go to an agent.
Where the Rollout Actually Stands
The Bima Sugam website went live on 17 September 2025 in Hyderabad, but as an information hub rather than a working marketplace. The insurer-facing product configurator is operational, letting insurers list products and set up APIs. Consumer features, including Bima Pehchaan registration, the portfolio dashboard and claims filing, are opening progressively as individual insurers complete their backend integration.
The project has missed several deadlines since it was first proposed in 2022. Speaking in Mumbai on 30 June 2026, IRDAI Chairman Ajay Seth said the platform was behind schedule but that initial products should be available by the end of September. Three are being prioritised: motor, health and term insurance.
Insurers are still completing the technology work needed to connect. Products on the platform are expected to be standardised, a basic structure with a few add-ons, so plans can be compared directly.
Creating Bima Pehchaan ID, Step by Step
The published process runs entirely online and needs only an Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Open bimasugam.co.in and select Register or Create Account.
- Choose Individual as the user type, since separate paths exist for agents and insurers.
- Enter the mobile number and confirm the OTP.
- Complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC using biometrics or OTP.
- The Bima Pehchaan ID is generated automatically once KYC clears.
- Set login credentials, and the e-Bima dashboard opens ready for policies to be added.
Aadhaar, an Aadhaar-linked mobile number, PAN and an email ID are needed. Existing policy numbers help but are not required at the registration stage.
Linking Policies Already Held
The policies can be linked with the Bima Pehchaan account through the following steps:
- Go to My Policies or e-Bima Account in the dashboard
- Choose Link Existing Policy
- Select the insurer and enter the policy number
The platform pulls the details directly from that insurer’s system, and confirming the link adds it to the consolidated view. Renewals, nominee updates and claim filing then run from the same place.
One limit matters here. Linking only works if the insurer has finished integrating with BSIF, and not every insurer will be connected at the same time. Checking whether a particular insurer is onboarded is worth doing before expecting a policy to appear.
Is Bima Sugam Safe
The platform holds:
- ISO 27001:2022 for information security
- ISO 27017:2015 for cloud security
- ISO 22301:2019 for business continuity
It is also compliant with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Its architecture is consent-based, so no data from a Bima Pehchaan profile reaches an insurer without approval at each stage of a transaction.
Registration is not currently mandatory for people who already hold policies, and the certifications above cover the data rather than the policy behind it. A dashboard shows what a policy is, not whether it will pay. Judging that still falls to the buyer, and an expert policy review answers it independently, with no tie to any insurer.
Disclaimer: This MyRupia article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available government, regulatory and industry sources. It should not be treated as investment, financial, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Information, examples, market data, and expert views mentioned in the article may change over time and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, invest in, or surrender any financial product. Readers should evaluate their individual circumstances and consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.
Also Read: How to Buy Health Insurance on Bima Sugam: Phase 2 Guide