mumbai life insurance industry paid 2074 per cent higher death benefit to its policyholders at rs 1717crore during the first quarter of the current fiscal according to the life insurance council during apriljune 2009 quarter the indian life insurance industry paid rs 1717crore as death claims to its policyholders compared to rs 1422crore during the same period last year life insurance council said in its recently released data life insurance council is the industry body representing 21 life insurance companies in india the private sector life insurance companies have paid 5735 per cent higher death claims during the first quarter at rs 321crore as against rs 204crore during the same quarter last year the economic downturn has in no way impacted the indian life insurance industry with respect to the payment of death benefit in fact it is significant to note that the death benefit on the contrary has increased life insurance council secretary general s b mathur said in a statement here