Axis Max Life IRIS 6.0 Findings – September 21, 2026
Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, in partnership with Kantar, unveiled the sixth edition of its Bharosa Talks India Retirement Index Study (IRIS 6.0) on September 21, 2026 in New Delhi. The study surveyed urban Indians and highlighted a pronounced shift toward earlier retirement aspirations while underscoring a sizable gap between ambition and financial readiness.
The core revelation is that seven out of ten urban Indians would like to retire before the traditional retirement age of 58‑60 if their financial needs are fully met, and half of those respondents aim to achieve Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE) before age 50. However, 82 % of Gen X+ respondents (aged 45 and above) believe they may never be able to stop working, citing the need for a steady regular income, and 91 % regret not having started retirement investments earlier.
Financial preparedness remains limited: respondents have accumulated only 28 % of their target retirement corpus on average (Gen X+ at 29 %). Consequently, just 11 % think their corpus will last a lifetime, while 39 % fear it will not even sustain them for five years. The perception of an adequate corpus is evolving; the share of respondents who consider ₹1 crore or less sufficient for a comfortable retirement fell from 77 % in 2025 to 70 % in 2026. Among households earning more than ₹15 lakh annually, only 51 % hold this view, and among metro residents the figure is 63 %.
The composite Bharosa Talks IRIS score rose to 49 in 2026, up from 48 in 2025 and 44 in 2022. The financial preparedness sub‑score improved marginally to 52 from 51, the health preparedness score remained unchanged at 46, and the emotional preparedness score stood at 57, down one point from the previous year.
Geographically, Tier II cities narrowed the preparedness gap, with their IRIS score climbing from 44 in 2025 to 48 in 2026, while metros held steady at 50 and Tier I cities recorded 48. Regionally, the East led with a score of 52, followed by the West and South at 49 each, and the North at 47. The South also improved its health preparedness score to 47 from 43.
Gender‑wise, women matched men with an overall IRIS score of 49. 62 % of women know the corpus they need, 52 % have health insurance, 41 % engage in regular physical activity, and 30 % believe their corpus will last more than ten years.
Younger generations are starting earlier: 62 % of Gen Z respondents have already begun investing for retirement, and they believe retirement planning should start at an average age of 29 years (overall average perceived start age is 31 years, with Millennials at 31 and Gen X+ at 34). One in two urban Indians says planning should begin with the first paycheck.
Health considerations feature prominently: 75 % expect to remain healthy and fit during retirement, 52 % have purchased health insurance, 44 % engage in daily physical activity, and 21 % use wearable devices to monitor health.
Social dynamics remain strong, with 87 % expecting to live with their children during retirement, although confidence in family support declined slightly from 87 % to 84 %.
Sumit Madan, MD & CEO of Axis Max Life, emphasized that “retirement remains a financial challenge for many Indians” and highlighted the need for financial freedom to choose post‑work activities. Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director & Chief Client Officer, South Asia at Kantar, noted the growing importance of health in retirement preparation and the broader conversation extending to Tier II cities.
Company background: Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, formerly Max Life Insurance Company Ltd., is a subsidiary of Max Financial Services Limited with Axis Bank and its affiliates as shareholders. For FY 2025‑26, the company reported a gross written premium of INR 38,877 crore. The firm is registered with IRDAI (No 104, CIN U74899HR2000PLC143012).
About Kantar: Kantar is a global marketing data and analytics firm providing intelligence for brand growth and consumer insights.
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