Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) recently constituted panels of its whole-time members to decide on the violations by certain insurers/insurance intermediaries.

About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

• It is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament, i.e., the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (IRDAI Act 1999), for the overall supervision and development of the insurance sector in India.
• It acts as an autonomous authority under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• The main goals of IRDAI are:
  • To safeguard the interest of the policyholders by fair business conduct and settlement of claims within time.
  • Developing and nurturing the Indian insurance industry.
  • To regulate the business of insurance with transparency, fairness, and honest practice.
  • Facilitating financial prudence of the insurers through solvency and stability checks of insurers.
  • To regulate premium charges and policy terms for preventing unscrupulous pricing and unaffordability.
• It is responsible for registering and/or licensing insurance, reinsurance companies, and intermediaries according to the regulations. 
• It sets the eligibility criteria, qualifications, and capital requirements for obtaining licenses in the insurance business.
• Head Office: Hyderabad
• Entities regulated by IRDAI:
  • Life Insurance Companies: Both public and private sector companies
  • General Insurance Companies: Both public and private sector companies. Among them, there are some standalone health insurance companies which offer health insurance policies.
  • Re-Insurance Companies
  • Agency Channel
  • Intermediaries, which include the following:
    • Corporate Agents
    • Brokers
    • Third-party Administrators
    • Surveyors and Loss Assessors.
• Composition: It consists of a Chairman, five full-time members, and four part-time members, all appointed by the Government of India.
• To protect the interests of policyholders, the IRDAI was granted significant responsibilities, including
  • Efficiently conducting the insurance business and protecting the interests of the policyholders in matters concerning assigning of policy, nomination by policyholders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claims, surrender value of the policy, and other terms and conditions of contracts of insurance.
  • Approving product terms and conditions offered by various insurers.
  • Regulating the investment of funds by insurance companies and maintaining a margin of solvency.
  • Specifying the financial reporting norms of insurance companies.
  • Specify code of conduct, qualifications, and training for intermediary or insurance agents.
  • Undertaking inspections, calling for information, and investigations, including an audit of insurance companies, intermediaries, and other organizations associated with the insurance business.
  • Ensuring insurance coverage is provided in rural areas and also to the vulnerable sections of society.

Source: TH

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