Liability cover · Compared
CGL vs Public, Product and Professional Liability
Four covers that sound alike and answer different claims. Here is the one-line difference, a category-level comparison mapped to the Indian instruments behind each, and how they stack together.
Public liability, product liability, professional indemnity, CGL — they blur together on a quote, and the wrong assumption surfaces only when a claim is declined.
The covers sound alike because they overlap. The simplest way to hold them apart: public liability is a room; CGL is the whole building — same foundation, far more cover.
The short version
- Public liability covers third-party injury and property damage from premises and operations.
- CGL is broader — it adds products, completed operations and advertising injury.
- Product liability answers harm from your product; professional indemnity answers advice errors.
- Many businesses need a combination, not one cover.
The one-line difference
Public liability answers third-party bodily injury and property damage. CGL includes that, then adds products and completed operations and personal and advertising injury — the full list is in what CGL covers. Product liability is the harm-from-your-product piece (often a CGL section, sometimes standalone). Professional indemnity is a different animal entirely: it covers financial loss from your advice or service, which liability policies don’t touch. For the base concept, see the full CGL guide.
The covers, side by side
Read this by the trigger — what kind of claim each one answers — and the Indian instrument behind it.
| Cover | Answers a claim for… | Context / instrument | Typically needed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Third-party injury or property damage from premises & operations | General; statutory for hazardous handlers (Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991) | Customer-facing premises, public-contact businesses |
| Commercial general liability (CGL) | The above plus products, completed operations and advertising injury | Broad commercial liability cover | Manufacturers, exporters, contractors, MNC vendors |
| Product liability | Harm from your product after sale | Strict liability under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 | Manufacturers, sellers, exporters |
| Professional indemnity | Financial loss from your advice, design or service errors | Errors & Omissions cover | Consultants, architects, IT, clinics, agencies |
Why “public liability” and “CGL” get confused
Because public liability is, in effect, one section of a CGL policy. A buyer who only ever needed premises cover may have been sold “public liability” and assume it’s the same thing — until a product or completed-operations claim arrives and falls outside it. If a contract asks for CGL, public liability alone usually won’t satisfy it.
Which covers stack together
These are not either/or. A manufacturer with export buyers might carry CGL (with products) and professional indemnity if it also advises; a clinic might pair CGL for premises with professional indemnity for clinical work. The job is to map your real exposures to the right combination — the subject of how to judge a CGL policy and the broker behind it.
Statutory references (Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; Consumer Protection Act, 2019) to be cleared by counsel. Table is category-level by design and names no insurers or products.
Frequently asked questions
Is public liability insurance the same as CGL?
Not quite. Public liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage. CGL includes that and adds products and completed operations, plus personal and advertising injury. Public liability is effectively one section of a CGL policy.
What is the difference between CGL and professional indemnity?
CGL covers physical third-party injury and property damage from your operations. Professional indemnity covers financial loss a client suffers from your advice, design or service errors. Many advice-led businesses need both.
Does CGL include product liability in India?
Comprehensive CGL policies usually include a products and completed-operations section. Manufacturers and exporters should confirm it is present and adequately sub-limited, given strict liability under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
If a contract asks for CGL, is public liability enough?
Usually not. Public liability is narrower than CGL. If a tender or vendor contract specifies CGL, a public liability policy alone typically will not meet the requirement.
What happens when you talk to us
A 20-minute video call with a Growth Advisor — no obligation, and no quote pushed. It opens with a five-minute video from our founder on how the benefits stack works and why Ethika exists; the rest is your questions. You’ll leave with an honest read on your current cover and claims experience, and a straight answer on whether we can genuinely help — even if you never become a client.
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A note on this page. Everything here is general information about commercial general liability insurance in India, not insurance, legal, financial or tax advice, and nothing is an offer. Cover, exclusions and statutory duties depend on the policy wording and your circumstances — for advice about your situation, talk to us.