new delhi the general insurance industry grew by about 12 per cent during january with robust performance by private players like reliance general and cholamandalam the 16 nonlife insurers collected rs 2520 crore premium in january 2008 against rs 2253 crore in the same month last year according to industry data during the month nine private sector general insurance companies garnered rs 990 crore against rs 811 crore in the same month a yearago reliance general increased its premium by 475 per cent to rs 149 crore cholamandalam ms general insurance premium grew by 65 per cent to rs 48 crore in january the largest player in the segment icici lombard collected rs 278 crore against rs 275 crore in january 2007 at the same time four public sector nonlife insurance companies collected rs 1467 crore against rs 1391 crore in the corresponding month a year ago in percentage terms while the public sector could increase their premiums by just 54 per cent nine private sector players clocked premium growth of 22 per cent during the month market leader new india assurance premium collection grew by 67 per cent to rs 451 crore as compared to rs 422 crore in the yearago period however oriental insurance posted a negative growth of 19 per cent to rs 327 crore against rs 333 crore in the same month last year private sector players market share stood at 40 per cent as compared to the public sectors share of 60 per cent in the month