Page 3 - Irdai

Irdai sets higher targets for rural, social, and motor TP coverage in FY27

Irdai raises insurance coverage targets for rural, social, and motor TP obligations in FY27. Insurers must cover more Gram Panchayats and increase motor vehicle insurance

Centre appoints Anuradha Thakur as director on central board of RBI

The move comes a day after Seth was named chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai)

Irdai fines Star Health Insurance ₹3.39 cr for cybersecurity lapses

Regulator Irdai on Friday said it has imposed a Rs 3.39 crore penalty on Star Health and Allied Insurance for various violations of Information & Cyber Security Guidelines. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irdai) has also issued a warning to the insurer. "Irdai...has imposed a penalty of Rs Three Crore Thirty-Nine Lakhs and a warning for various violations established under Irdai Information & Cyber Security Guidelines, 2023," the regulator said in its order on Star Health and Allied Insurance. Star Health Insurance has a strong multi-channel distribution network, with 913 offices, over 14,000 network hospitals, more than 7,75,000 licensed agents, and 17,000 employees. In 2024-25, Star Health's gross written premium stood at Rs 17,553 crore, with its net worth at Rs 8,668 crore.

New IRDAI chairman, private banks' retail loan growth, hiring at major commercial banks & more

The Centre has appointed Ajay Seth, recently retired finance secretary, as the new chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, 4 months after the position was left vacant.

Former Finance Secretary Ajay Seth appointed as new Irdai chairman

Ajay Seth, former finance secretary and G20 finance track lead, appointed as Irdai chairman for three years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier

Stabilising sector: Task cut out for new Irdai chairman Ajay Seth

With major reforms underway and growth tapering, Seth's key challenge will be to stabilise the insurance sector and steer regulatory transitions

Irdai proposes internal ombudsman to address claims up to ₹50 lakh

The ombudsman will apply to insurers with over three years of operations, be empowered to handle claims up to Rs 50 lakh, and offer time-bound grievance redressal

Irdai may curb Kiwi Insurance's retail health plans over promoter links

Insurance sector regulator Irdai may restrict Kiwi General Insurance from offering retail health products to avoid direct overlap, as the promoter of the non-life firm, WestBridge Capital, also holds a majority stake in leading standalone health insurer Star Health and Allied Insurance, sources said. Under existing regulations the same promoter cannot hold stake in two similar nature insurance firms. With about 60 per cent stake in Kiwi General Insurance, WestBridge now effectively holds a significant stake in companies that will both operate in the retail health insurance segment. It currently holds about 40 per cent stake in Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd, as per information available on the BSE. However, public sector banks have got regulatory forbearance from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) following the consolidation exercise undertaken in 2020. "This is the first time in the industry that the regulator is faced with a scenario whe

Irdai panel flags risks in merging insurers with non-insurance firms

Dinesh Khara-led panel warns that allowing mergers between insurers and non-insurance firms could endanger policyholders; report submitted amid broader review of Insurance Act reforms

Irdai sets up panels to probe insurer and intermediary rule violations

Insurance regulator Irdai has formed panels of whole-time members to look into violations of regulatory norms by insurers and intermediaries. A decision to this effect was taken at the 132nd meeting of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), the regulator said in a release on Tuesday. "As part of enforcement function, to decide on the violations observed as regards the provisions of Insurance Act and Regulations issued thereunder, with respect to certain Insurers/Insurance Intermediaries, panels of Whole-Time Members were formed," Irdai said. There have been reports of data leakage and mis-selling of polices in the insurance sector. In terms of delegation of powers by the Authority, the regulator also decided to form a panel of Whole-Time Members to consider specific share transfer applications and other matters. The release further said the initial application form (R1 application) of Kiwi General Insurance was also approved during the meeting. To ob

As debate over obligatory cession rages, GIC Re could hold the solution

Whether obligatory cession should be cut to zero or retained could be resolved by allowing GIC Re to independently set commissions instead of Irdai mandating a fixed rate

Irdai unlikely to act against bancassurance despite mis-selling fears

Insurance regulator finds bancassurance mis-selling not alarming and rules out coercive curbs while continuing to advise insurers to list for transparency and governance

Evaluate OPD plans on sum insured, coverage, sub-limit, and network

Estimate your annual OPD expenses to decide suitable sum insured

Govt may raise motor third-party insurance premiums by up to 10% soon

The hike, likely to take effect by October 2025 or April 2026, aims to ease pressure on insurers facing rising claims, especially from commercial vehicles and pandemic-era payouts

Sumit Madan next MD,CEO of Max Life Insurance, to take charge from Oct 2025

Max Financial Services on Tuesday said it has approved the appointment of Sumit Madan as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Axis Max Life. Madan, currently Chief Distribution Officer of Axis Max Life, will replace Prashant Tripathy, Max Financial Services said in a regulatory filing. Tripathy has requested for early retirement and therefore his tenure would end on September 30, 2025. The Board of Directors of Axis Max Life in its meeting held earlier in the day has approved the elevation of Madan as MD & CEO for 5 years effective from October 1, 2025 till September 30, 2030, subject to the approval by the shareholders of insurance company, it said. Axis Max Life Insurance is a subsidiary of Max Financial Services. The appointment of Madan would be subject to the approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in accordance with the applicable laws, it said. Axis Max Life Insurance Limited is a joint venture between Max Financial ...

Three months after Panda's exit, Irdai chairperson post remains vacant

Absence of a regulator stalls key insurance reforms including Bima Trinity, composite licence, and risk-based capital framework

General insurers launch ₹120-cr campaign to raise insurance awareness

With penetration slipping to 3.7% in FY24, general insurers roll out "Acha Kiya Insurance Liya" campaign modelled on mutual fund success to drive awareness

New India Assurance to launch parametric insurance for climate risks: CMD

State-owned New India Assurance will this month launch a parametric insurance product, which will provide a financial safety net to its retail and business customers against climate risks, said chairman and managing director Girija Subramanian on Tuesday. Parametric insurance refers to losses arising out of calamities including heavy rainfall, high speed wind and flood/drought. Unlike traditional insurance policies, the payout in case of parametric insurance products depends upon triggering of pre-defined parameters, thus allowing for quicker claim settlement. "Parametric insurance is a use and file product, which is allowed by the regulator IRDAI. We have got it already registered on IRDAI so the product is ready and can be used across both retail and business groups. We are ready with that in a big way," Subramanian told PTI. Asked about the timeline for launch of the product, she said: "We will be launching it by the end of this month." Subramanian said the parametric insurance

AIFs push to flip the switch on regulatory static to ease fund flows

Operational noise disrupts capital flow; industry demands an inter-regulatory bridge

Go Digit General Insurance's Q4 net profit up 2.2 times at ₹115.61 crore

The expenses of the insurer rose by nearly 9.39 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹2,426.12 crore