Draft IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests and Allied Matters of Insurers) Regulations, 2024 released | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Draft IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests and Allied Matters of Insurers) Regulations, 2024 released

Posted 11 Mar 2024

Updated 27 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) framed these regulations in exercise of powers under Insurance Act, 1938 and IRDA Act, 1999
     
  • Key highlights of regulation:
    • It brings together 8 separate regulations into a unified and comprehensive framework.
    • Objective: To ensure that the interests of policyholders are protected and insurers and distribution channel fulfil their obligations towards policyholders.
    • Key measures for protection of interest of policyholders:
      • The free-look period (period for returning policy without any penalties) shall be 30 days from date of receipt of policy document.
      • For life insurance, compulsory gathering of nominee information at proposal stage.
      • Policies to be offered in electronic format with measures for safeguarding data privacy.
      • Insurers shall prevent mis-selling and unfair business practices. 
      • Every insurer shall have a system for registering and disposing of grievances in each of its offices. 
         
  • Challenges to insurance sector from policyholders’ perspective include: 
    • Low insurance penetration (4.2%) and insurance density ($91).
    • Delays in processing of claim settlement.
    • High premiums with 18% GST on insurance premium.
    • Mis-selling of products with lack of awareness and knowledge of coverage.

 

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

  • Statutory body formed under IRDA Act, 1999.
  • Purpose: Overall supervision and development of the Insurance sector in India.
  • Key objectives: Protecting the interest of policyholders, Speedy and orderly growth of the insurance industry, Speedy settlement of genuine claims.
  • IRDAI is taking steps like Bima Sugam, Bima Vahak and Bima Vistaar amongst other to fulfil its vision of ‘Insurance for All’ by 2047
  • Tags :
  • IRDAI
  • Insurance Act, 1938
  • IRDA Act, 1999
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