In 1993, Malhotra Committee headed by former Finance Secretary and RBI Governor. R. N. Malhotra was formed to evaluate the Indian Insurance Industry and recommend its future direction. The committee was set up with an objective of complementing the reforms in the Indian Financial Sector. The reforms were aimed at "Creating a mere efficient and come positive financial system suitable for the requirement of the economy keeping in mind the structural changes currently underway and recognizing that insurance is an .important part of the overall financial system where it was necessary to address the need for similar reforms."
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) is a national agency of the Government of India, based in Hyderabad. It was formed by an act of Indian Parliament known as IRDA Act 1999, which was amended in 2002 to incorporate some emerging requirements. Mission of IRDA as stated in the act is "to protect the interests of the policyholders, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance industry and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."
Duties, Powers and Functions of IRDA
Section 14 of IRDA Act, 1999 lays down the duties, powers and functions of IRDA.
- Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law for the time being in force, the authority shall have the duty to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance business and re-insurance business.
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Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the
powers and functions of the Authority shall include,
- Issue to the applicant a certificate of registration, renew, modify, withdraw, suspend or cancel such registration
- protection of the interests of the policy holders in matters concerning assigning of policy, nomination by policy holders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claim, surrender value of policy and other terms and conditions of contracts of insurance
- Specifying requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training for intermediary or insurance intermediaries and agents
- Specifying the code of conduct for surveyors and loss assessors
- Promoting efficiency in the conduct of insurance business
- Promoting and regulating professional organisations connected with the insurance and re-insurance business
- Levying fees and other charges for carrying out the purposes of this Act
- calling for information from, undertaking inspection of, conducting enquiries and investigations including audit of the insurers, intermediaries, insurance intermediaries and other organisations connected with the insurance business
- control and regulation of the rates, advantages, terms and conditions that may be offered by insurers in respect of general insurance business not so controlled and regulated by the Tariff Advisory Committee under section 64U of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938)
- Specifying the form and manner in which books of account shall be maintained and statement of accounts shall be rendered by insurers and other insurance intermediaries
- Regulating investment of funds by insurance companies
- Regulating maintenance of margin of solvency
- Adjudication of disputes between insurers and intermediaries or insurance intermediaries