ICICI Lombard General Insurance reported a **9% year-on-year decline in net profit** for the quarter ending December, primarily driven by elevated claim volumes and weakened underwriting performance. Despite the contraction in bottom-line earnings, the insurer maintained top-line momentum with **gross direct premium income (GDPI) increasing by 13.3%**. This growth reflects sustained demand across core segments, even as operational margins faced pressure. The **combined ratio**, a critical metric of insurance profitability, deteriorated during the period. This upward trend in the ratio indicates that claim payouts and operational expenses accounted for a larger share of earned premiums compared to the previous year.