When you read an LIC maturity illustration, two words decide how much you actually get: bonus and guaranteed additions. They sound similar but work very differently, and knowing the difference tells you how reliable the projected maturity really is.
Bonus (participating plans)
Plans like Jeevan Labh, Jeevan Anand and the older endowments are participating — they share in LIC’s surplus through a Simple Reversionary Bonus declared each year, plus a one-time Final Additional Bonus at maturity. The bonus is expressed as an amount per ₹1,000 of sum assured. The catch: bonus rates are declared annually and are not guaranteed. The maturity shown on an illustration assumes the current bonus continues for the whole term — the real figure can be higher or lower.
Guaranteed Additions (non-participating plans)
Newer plans like New Bima Jyoti (890) and Bima Platinum (770) are non-participating. Instead of a variable bonus, they add a Guaranteed Addition — a fixed amount each year that is promised in the contract. New Bima Jyoti adds 6% of your annual premium a year; Bima Platinum adds ₹70 per ₹1,000 of sum assured. Because it is guaranteed, you know your maturity value up front, with no dependence on future declarations.
Which is better for you?
Guaranteed additions give certainty — you can bank the number. Bonuses give the possibility of a little more if LIC declares generously, but with uncertainty. Neither changes the underlying truth: both structures deliver roughly 5–6% overall.
See it for your own policy
Our calculators build the maturity for each plan using its actual bonus or guaranteed-addition rates — try the premium calculator or the New Bima Jyoti tool to see the difference in rupees.
Educational information, not individual advice. Bonus rates are declared by LIC each year and actual maturity will differ.