The OICL AO descriptive paper has two parts: Essay and Précis writing. Key essay topics are grouped under categories such as Insurance and Economy, Current Affairs, Social Issues, Technology, and Ethics. For précis writing, topics include Insurance awareness and penetration, Economic reforms, and financial inclusion. To prepare for the OICL AO Essay and Précis, candidates should read newspapers regularly to improve current affairs knowledge and vocabulary, strengthen grammar fundamentals, practice summarising editorials for précis, and write structured essays using examples. Additionally, they should take online mock tests to develop time management skills and understand the evaluation criteria for both sections, focusing on producing concise, relevant, and error-free responses within the word limits. The OICL AO Descriptive Paper, conducted by Oriental Insurance Company Limited, evaluates candidates’ written communication skills through Essay and Précis writing. This article covers the most important OICL AO descriptive paper topics along with preparation strategies to score well in this section.

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OICL AO Descriptive Paper Pattern 2026

Candidates can refer to the official OICL AO Descriptive Paper Pattern, as per the notification PDF, provided in the table below.

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Important Essay Topics For OICL AO Descriptive Paper

For the OICL AO Descriptive Paper, concentrate on Insurance and Finance topics such as Digitalisation, Financial Inclusion, and government schemes like Ayushman Bharat, as well as Socio-Economic Issues, including Women Empowerment, Mental Health. Additionally, cover Technology and Economy areas like AI and Cybersecurity, highlighting recent trends and government initiatives. Other important topics are categorised below. 

Insurance and Financial Sector

1. Role of Insurance in Economic Growth.

2. Digitalisation in Insurance: AI, Big Data and InsurTech.

3. Financial Inclusion through Insurance and Banking.

4. Microinsurance and Its Importance in Rural India.

5. Government Insurance Schemes and Social Security. (Ayushman Bharat, PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)

6. Cyber Insurance: Need and Challenges in the Digital Era.

7. Ethical Practices and Customer-Centric Approach in Insurance.

8. Risk Management and Sustainability in the Insurance Sector.

Current Affairs and Socio-Economic Issues

1. Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment.

2. Women's Empowerment through Financial Inclusion.

3. Mental Health Awareness and Workplace Productivity.

4. Climate Change and Risk Management.

5. Impact of Climate Change on the Insurance Industry.

6. Social Security and Pension Reforms in India.

7. Unemployment and Skill Development in India.

8. Digital India and Its Impact on Financial Services.

Technology, Economy and Future Trends

1. Artificial Intelligence in Banking and Insurance.

2. Big Data and Analytics in Financial Decision-Making.

3. Cybersecurity Threats in the Financial Sector.

4. Cashless Economy: Opportunities and Challenges.

5. Blockchain Technology in Financial Services.

6. Automation and the Future of Work.

7. FinTech and InsurTech: Transforming Financial Services.

8. Data Privacy and Cyber Laws in the Digital Age.

Important Précis Writing Topics For OICL AO Descriptive Paper

For OICL AO Précis writing, concentrate on themes such as Insurance, Finance, Technology, Government Schemes, Climate Change, Social Issues, and Economic Growth, since these areas align with recent trends in similar insurance exams. These require concise summaries of the passages provided. Here are some key themes for précis writing, not specific titles.

• Insurance awareness and penetration.

• Economic reforms and financial inclusion.

• Digital payments and cyber risks.

• Climate change and sustainability.

• Governance, transparency, and ethics.

• Role of insurance in social security systems.

• Impact of technology on risk management.

• Financial literacy and consumer protection.

How to Score Well in OICL AO Descriptive Paper?

To score well in the OICL AO Descriptive Paper, understand the exam format, structured writing, and effective time management. Essays should follow a clear Introduction–Body–Conclusion structure, maintain a neutral tone, and use relevant examples only. For the précis, candidates must write about one-third of the passage, preserve the original meaning, avoid personal views, and use their own words. Regular computer-based practice and awareness of current affairs and insurance-related topics further improve scoring potential.

• Understand the Exam Format: Know the exact pattern of the OICL AO Descriptive Paper conducted by Oriental Insurance Company Limited, including Essay and Précis writing, word limits, marks distribution, and the 30-minute time frame. A clear understanding prevents overwriting and poor time management.

• Build Strong Language Fundamentals: Improve grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure through regular reading of newspapers and editorials focused on the economy, insurance, governance, and technology. Clear and error-free language is more important than complex wording.

• Practice Computer-Based Writing: Since the exam is conducted online, regular typing practice is essential. Writing answers on a computer improves speed, accuracy, and coherence, helping candidates complete both questions within the given time.

• Follow a Structured Essay Approach: Write essays using a clear Introduction–Body–Conclusion format. Maintain a neutral, formal tone, stay relevant to insurance or economic aspects, and avoid extreme or emotional opinions. Use examples only when they add value.

• Apply the Correct Précis Writing Rules: Write the précis in about one-third of the original passage, preserve the main idea, maintain the original flow, avoid personal views, and express the content in your own words. Accuracy and clarity are key scoring factors.

• Manage Time Effectively: Allocate time wisely—approximately 18–20 minutes for the Essay, 10–12 minutes for the Précis, and the final minutes for quick revision to correct grammar and spelling errors.

• Use Mock Tests and Revision: Attempt descriptive mock tests regularly to improve speed and structure. Review answers to identify repeated mistakes in content, grammar, and organisation, and revise accordingly.

Common Mistakes that Aspirants Make

Many aspirants lose marks in the OICL AO Descriptive Paper not due to lack of knowledge, but because of avoidable writing mistakes. Since the test is conducted online with a limited time (30 minutes), accuracy and structure become critical. 

• Poor Time Management: Spending too much time on the essay or rushing through the précis leads to incomplete or poorly written answers. Failure to allocate time properly affects overall performance.

• Overwriting Beyond the Word Limit: Writing excessively long answers reduces clarity and increases grammatical errors. Examiners prefer concise, relevant, and well-structured responses over lengthy explanations.

• Grammatical Errors: Frequent grammatical and spelling mistakes, especially in the précis section, significantly reduce marks. Language accuracy is a key evaluation parameter.

• Copying Sentences Directly in Précis: Using sentences directly from the passage instead of paraphrasing defeats the purpose of précis writing and results in a mark deduction.

• Lack of Coherence and Structure: Unorganised ideas, poor paragraph flow, and missing structure (especially in essays) make answers difficult to evaluate and lower scores.

FAQs

Q: Is the OICL AO descriptive paper qualifying?

Yes, the descriptive test is qualifying in nature, and the Descriptive test scores will not be counted towards shortlisting for interview or final selection.

Q: How many words should an essay be?

For the OICL AO exam's descriptive paper, the recommended essay length is approximately 200–250 words, as it's a common guideline for similar insurance exams.

Q: How long should a précis be?

For the OICL AO exam's Descriptive Test, the ideal length of a précis is one-third of the original passage, aiming for conciseness and clarity.

Q: Is grammar more important than content?

In the OICL AO descriptive paper, content and grammar carry equal importance in determining the final score.