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| Vibhash Naik – Chief Human Resources Officer, HDFC Life |
An effort to
reduce India’s graduate employability gap through a demand-driven,
industry-certified training and internship model
Mumbai, September
16, 2025:
HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers has launched a unique
internship program in partnership with global skilling major upGrad. Named ‘Insurance
Fundamentals Program’ by HDFC Life and upGrad, this course not only offers
certification in life insurance but also provides practical experience of the business
and outlines a career pathway for the participants.
The program is a 3-week self-paced online course followed by a four-month
paid internship with HDFC Life for learners who complete the program and meet the
internship selection criteria. Learners need to pay a nominal fee to register
and access the online course on the upGrad portal.
The learners stand an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with one
of India’s most respected life insurance companies while improving their
chances of landing full-time employment in the Banking, Financial Services and
Insurance (BFSI) sector. Designed for pre-final, final year students, fresh
graduates, and career switchers with little to no prior finance experience, this
program will equip learners with a powerful blend of hard and soft skills.
Phase 1 will roll out across colleges and universities in India, with
the goal of embedding industry-aligned skills into academic ecosystem and
accelerating employability outcomes at scale.
The program aims to provide internship opportunities for up to 2,000 eligible
participants across HDFC Life branch network.
According to Vibhash Naik – Chief Human
Resources Officer, HDFC Life “The Indian insurance industry is poised for growth
and as companies scale-up there will be a demand for skilled and qualified
professionals. For aspirants looking at building a career in this sector,
domain knowledge is absolutely essential. The Insurance Fundamentals Program,
jointly certified by HDFC Life and upGrad is not just about training; it’s
about being employable and having the requisite knowledge and skills that are
relevant for the BFSI sector. This program combines domain and industry
knowledge along with real-world exposure, thus offering participants the best
of both worlds.”
Learners will be trained in financial literacy, time value of money,
interest calculation, risk assessment, insurance terminology, and Unit Linked
Insurance Plan ULIP insights. Modules on regulatory compliance, Insurance Act,
grievance redressal, and money laundering prevention will further equip them
with a strong compliance foundation. To prepare for frontline, client-facing
roles, the program will also sharpen verbal and non-verbal communication; body
language, grooming standards, and professional etiquette ensuring graduates are
not just informed, but industry-ready.
Anuj Vishwakarma, COO
Anuj Vishwakarma, COO – Institutional Businesses & Certifications, upGrad added, “As
India positions itself as a global talent hub, programs like this are essential
ground levellers. Youth from both metros and smaller towns are entering the
formal workforce, and we’re committed to equipping them with the right tools to
succeed. In high-trust sectors like insurance, role-specific, outcome-driven
training is not just important - it's urgent.”
“At upGrad, we’ve spent years perfecting the right market mix to
ensure our learning outcomes are aligned with industry needs and enables our
talent to use it from Day 1. This partnership
with HDFC Life will now bring that capability into the insurance
ecosystem. What makes this partnership truly impactful is the opportunity to
learn directly through on-the-job exposure. Internships remain the most
powerful way to bridge theory and practice - and doing that with an industry
leader brings unmatched value", he added.
The launch aligns with a growing shift in how corporates are
rethinking hiring, prioritising outcome-driven skilling over conventional
sourcing models. As the Indian life insurance industry works towards achieving
the collective vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’, the need for
customer-facing professionals will continue to surge. Reports suggest the BFSI
sector overtook Information Technology (IT) as the top recruiter in FY24,
adding over 200,000 jobs.
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