GK - Banking & Insurance - SPLessons

IRDA – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

Home > > Tutorial
SPLessons 5 Steps, 3 Clicks
5 Steps - 3 Clicks

IRDA – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

shape Introduction

  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) of India was founded in 2000 as an autonomous statutory body.

  • Incorporation of IRDA was done following the privatization of the insurance sector.

  • Headquartered in Hyderabad, this authority is tasked to regulate and promote the insurance and reinsurance sector in India.

  • IRDA acts as a regulator to resolve problems and supervise the issues that arise in the insurance sector. Further, it also fulfills its roles, duties, and powers to develop the sector.

  • The IRDA must control, promote, and safeguard the growth of the Indian insurance industry and reinsurance business.

  • For all further information, refer website: www.irdai.gov.in.

shape Structure

Organization Structure:

  • IRDA consists of a Chairman, whole time members, and part-time members.

  • Mr. Subhash Chandra Khuntia is the current Chairman of IRDA.

  • All the members and the Chairman shall act as a group of members and work jointly as the Controller of Insurance rather than working individually.

  • This shall mean that the authority continues to work consistently irrespective of resignation or death of a member.

  • The authority holds a common seal that is bestowed with the power to enter into a contract by fixing a stamp on the document.

  • The authority holds the right to sue any person or organization and can also be sued.

shape Members

Designation Name Brief Profile
Chairman Mr. Subhash Chandra Khuntia
  • The assumed charge on May 2018.
  • An Economics scholar and a law graduate, Dr. Khuntia was appointed in Indian Administrative Service in 1981
Member (Finance & Investment) Mr. Pravin Kutumbe
  • The assumed charge on 12th March 2018.
  • Mr. Kutumbe used to work as an Executive Director (Finance & Accounts) in LIC.
  • His 33 years of prior work experience at LIC involve working as CEO of LIC’s overseas Fiji operations, visiting faculty in various management institutions.
Member (Distribution) Mr. Sujay Banarji
  • The assumed charge on March 1, 2018.
  • Mr. Banarji has previously worked with Oriental Insurance Company, Head of the Reinsurance Department, New India’s Sydney office.
Member (Life) Mr. Nilesh Sathe
  • The assumed charge on July 1, 2015.
  • Mr. Sathe has been privileged to head the Northern Zone of LIC and after that, many positions in LIC India.
  • Mr. Sathe has pursued post graduation in CommerceMr.. and has worked with Bank of India and Canara Bank before joining LIC.
Member (Actuary) Ms. Pournima Gupta
  • The assumed charge on January 2015.
  • Ms. Gupta has worked for 30 years in the Indian insurance industry in various capacities.
  • Ms. Gupta is a Fellow of Institute of Actuaries of India and holds a degree in Statistics from Mumbai University.

shape Functions

  • Protection of interest of policyholders and secure them through fair treatment.

  • Provision of benefits to the common man by bringing in speedy and orderly growth in the industry.

  • Provision of long term funds for accelerating economic growth.

  • Establishment of high standards of integrity is done by IRDA such that these are enforced to bring in financial soundness, competencies among various players, and fair dealing.

  • Ensure quick settlement of claims that are genuine through effective grievance redressal mechanisms.

  • IRDA undertakes steps for prevention of insurance frauds and other malpractices.

  • Take actions if the standards enforced are found to be inadequate and ineffective.

  • Efforts are made by IRDA for the promotion of fairness, orderly conduct, and transparency in the Indian financial markets that deal with insurance.

  • IRDA works to build a reliable management information system for the enforcement of high standards of financial soundness among market players.

  • Maintain optimum amount of self-regulation in day to day working such that the industry works consistently with the requirements of the prudential regulation.

shape Products

Segment Examples of Insurance Companies
Life Product TATA AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Shriram Life Insurance Co. Ltd., DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Exide Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Aditya Birla Life Insurance Co. Ltd..
General Insurance Acko General Insurance Limited, Baja Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd., Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd., Cholamandalam General Insurance Co. Ltd., DHFL General Insurance Co. Ltd.
Health Insurance Aditya Birla Health Ins co., Apollo Munich Health Insurance Co Ltd., Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd., Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company.

shape Impact

Impact of IRDA:

shape IA

International Affairs:

  • IRDA also has extended support to the less developed or developing countries. The support is in the form of providing technical inputs based on the requirements of the same.

  • International assistance is provided with an objective to improve strategies and enhance knowledge of various aspects of insurance worldwide.