The LIC AAO (Assistant Administrative Officer) Generalist exam is a highly competitive national-level examination conducted by the Life Insurance Corporation of India. The selection process consists of three main stages: a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview. The marks from the preliminary exam are for qualifying purposes only, while the final merit list is based on the marks obtained in the main exam and the interview. A pre-recruitment medical examination is also conducted after these stages.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the LIC AAO Generalist post, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
Age: The minimum age is 21 years, and the maximum age is 30 years. Age relaxation is provided for candidates in reserved categories, such as SC/ST, OBC, and PwBD, as per government regulations.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution in India. There is no minimum percentage requirement for eligibility.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The exam is conducted online and is divided into two phases:
Preliminary Examination This phase is qualifying in nature, and the marks are not included in the final merit list. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. The exam has a total duration of 60 minutes, with sectional timings of 20 minutes for each section.
Reasoning Ability: 35 questions, 35 marks
Quantitative Aptitude: 35 questions, 35 marks
English Language: 30 questions, 30 marks (This section is qualifying only; marks are not counted for ranking).
Main Examination
The marks from this phase, along with the interview marks, are considered for the final selection. The main exam consists of both objective and descriptive tests. There is no negative marking for objective questions. The total duration is 2 hours for the objective test and 30 minutes for the descriptive test.
Objective Test (120 questions, 300 marks):
Reasoning Ability: 30 questions, 90 marks
General Knowledge & Current Affairs: 30 questions, 60 marks
Data Analysis & Interpretation: 30 questions, 90 marks
Insurance & Financial Market Awareness: 30 questions, 60 marks
Descriptive Test (2 questions, 25 marks):
English Language: Letter Writing & Essay. This is a qualifying test, and marks will not be counted for ranking.
Basic Pay and Pay Scale:
The starting basic pay is ₹88,635 per month.
The revised pay scale is ₹88,635 - 4385(14) - 150025 – 4750(4) – 169025.
This means you will receive an annual increment of ₹4,385 for the first 14 years, then ₹4,750 for the next four years, reaching a maximum basic pay of ₹1,69,025.
Gross and In-Hand Salary:
The total monthly emoluments, including allowances like House Rent Allowance (HRA) and City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), are approximately ₹1,26,000 per month in an "A-Class" city.
The gross monthly salary is around ₹1,20,675.
After deductions for income tax, professional tax, and other schemes, the net in-hand salary is approximately ₹1,07,222 per month.
Allowances and Benefits: In addition to the basic pay, an LIC AAO is eligible for various allowances and benefits, which may include:
Dearness Allowance (DA)
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
City Compensatory Allowance (CCA)
Transport Allowance
Defined Contributory Pension
Gratuity
Group Insurance
Cash Medical Benefit
Meal coupons
Vehicle loan (as per rules)
Reimbursement for the cost of a briefcase/leather bag, mobile handset, and mobile expenses.
Career Path & Promotions
The hierarchy within the administrative cadre of LIC is well-defined, and an AAO can expect to climb the ladder to senior roles. The typical promotion path is as follows:
Assistant Administrative Officer (AAO): This is the entry-level position where you perform a wide range of administrative duties. After gaining 3-5 years of experience, you become eligible for your first promotion.
Administrative Officer (AO): This role involves more responsibility, including supervising AAOs and handling larger administrative functions.
Assistant Divisional Manager (ADM): In this leadership role, you oversee a division, guiding AOs and ensuring smooth operations.
Divisional Manager (DM): As a DM, you are in charge of an entire division, responsible for strategic planning, resource management, and overall performance.
Senior Divisional Manager (SDM): At this level, your responsibilities expand to overseeing multiple divisions or a large geographic area.
Zonal Manager (ZM): This is a very senior position where you manage operations across several regions.
Through continued hard work and dedication, an AAO can even rise to the position of a Chief or Executive Director, and potentially even the Chairman of LIC.
Job Profile & Responsibilities
The job of an LIC AAO is primarily an administrative and supervisory desk job. While they are not typically involved in fieldwork, their responsibilities are crucial for the smooth functioning of the corporation. Key responsibilities include:
Administrative Duties: Handling back-office work, managing documentation, and ensuring compliance with LIC guidelines.
Policy Management: Supervising the issuance of new policies, processing policy amendments, and verifying documents.
Claims Management: Overseeing the settlement of death and maturity claims and ensuring timely processing.
Customer Service: Addressing policy-related queries and resolving customer issues.
Financial & Market Analysis: Assisting in financial planning, assessing risk factors, and analyzing market trends to help develop new insurance schemes.