The Bima Vahak guidelines for the women-centric insurance distribution channel will be implemented concurrently with the introduction of Bima Vistaar, and the Bima Vahaks have to be deployed in each gram panchayat by December 31, 2024, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) announced in a circular on October 9, 2023. 

• The Irdai is in the final stages of defining the details for an all-encompassing standard insurance product called Bima Vistaar, which is slated for a launch soon.
• The primary goal of Bima Vahaks is to establish a dedicated distribution channel with a focus on women, aiming to enhance insurance inclusion and raise awareness in every village and gram panchayat.
• This initiative seeks to improve the accessibility and availability of insurance across the entire country.
• The objective includes the identification and development of local resources who not only understand and appreciate local needs, but also have the trust and confidence of the local population in their respective villages and gram panchayats.