LIC Development officers are Class II officers who are recruited by the divisional office of Life Insurance Corporation of India through conducting an entrance examination and personal interview. Unlike LIC agent which is a commission-based temporary job, development officer is a permanent job with salary and incentives. As Life Insurance Corporation of India is a public sector undertaking it is a well sought career option for many of young people. The LIC DO competitive exam is the primary basis of selecting assistant development officers of LIC, thus, in this article we will focus on the role and responsibilities of LIC DO, eligibility, pattern of examination and a few other important points, which will be helpful for prospective candidates to move forward with this as a career goal.

Firstly, we will underline the primary duties and responsibilities of a DO which are as follows:

• Recruitment, training and supervision of LIC agents and insurance advisors
• Meeting prospective clients and to promote life insurance products with an intention of getting the sales contract
• Meeting annual premium collection and new business targets, maintaining the cost ratio
• Maintaining the adequate renewal target persistency levels

• Responsibility and accountability: An administrator should hold himself morally responsible for his actions and should be willing to be held accountable.
• Commitment for work: According to swami Vivekananda ‘every duty is holy and devotion to duty is the highest form of worship.
• Ensuring excellence in work: An administrator would ensure the highest standard of quality in administrative decision and action.
• Responsiveness and resilience: He should adapt to environmental transformation and yet sustain the ethical norms of conduct.
• Principle of utilitarianism: An administrator should ensure the decision should lead to the greatest good of the greatest number.
• Maximum of Compassion: A civil servant without violating the prescribed law and rules would demonstrate compassion for the poor, the disabled and the weak.
• National interest: A civil servant should keep in view the impact of his action on his nation’s strength and prestige.
• Principle of justice: Administrators must observe principles of equality, equity, fairness, impartiality and objectivity.
• Maximum of integrity: An administrator would undertake an administrative action on the basis of honesty and not use his power, position, and discretion to serve his personal interest.

• During the apprentice period, the candidate selected as Apprentice Development Officer will be paid a fixed amount as stipend per month as per rules of the Corporation.
• At present, the amount of stipend is about Rs.34,503/- per month, except in case of candidates selected from LIC Employees category.
• A Probationary Development Officer at a specified Headquarter in the area will be placed in the scale of Rs. 21865-1340(2)-24545-1580(2)-27705-1610(17)-55075 plus allowances and other benefits as per rules in force.
• On appointment as a Probationary Development Officer, basic pay of Rs. 21,865/- per month (except for Employee Category candidates) in the scale of 21865-1340(2)-24545-1580(2)-27705-1610(17)-55075 and other admissible allowances as per rules shall be payable.