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IRDA Insurance License
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Overview of IRDA Insurance License
Before the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI), insurance was regulated under the Insurance Act 1938. Over the years, various amendments were passed to ensure that insurance business is appropriately regulated. There were several laws and regulations which were passed after 1938. In the mid-1950s, insurance companies were nationalized. This also included the nationalization of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Mainly all life insurance businesses would come under the ambit of the LIC. After several nationalizations occurred, the number of insurance firms reduced in India. All the firms came under the purview of several insurance firms offering services.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Act 1999 (IRDAI Act) was brought out with the view to regulate the insurance businesses in India. Such regulation was brought out for the development of the Insurance Sector in India. This regulation governs the registration of insurance business in India, granting of IRDAI Licence for starting an insurance business and protection of the interests of the policyholders. Apart from this, the nodal agency ensures that firms are compliant with the regulations which are brought out from time to time.
Insurance products can be sold to policyholders, either online or offline. IRDA Licence provides a certificate for Insurance companies to operate.
Purpose of securing an IRDA Licence for your Insurance Business
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has been set up as a nodal agency to regulate the insurance sector in India. Apart from this, the agency also monitors the regulation of insurance businesses in India. This regulator ensures to maintain the balance between insurance firms and policyholders. Securing an insurance licence for your business is crucial as it involves dealing with financial linked products. Insurance contracts are contracts that provide indemnity to the policyholder on the happening of a particular event. Therefore these areas require regulation constantly. Hence it is essential to obtain an IRDA licence before commencing an insurance business.
Is an IRDA Licence Required
An IRDA Licence would be required for the following reasons:
- Ensure that the insurance business is compliant with the laws and regulations that are passed by the IRDAI from time to time.
- To control the business of insurance in India. Insurance sector requires to be heavily regulated to protect the interests of consumers.
- It also assures the people and authorities that proper rules and regulations, and extra care and protection are followed while carrying out the business of insurance.
- The IRDAI ensures that insurance business are being monitored and regulated on a constant basis.
- The IRDAI would also handle any form of grievance of policyholders. This would be addressed as a grievance handling mechanism.● The IRDAI would also handle any form of grievance of policyholders. This would be addressed as a grievance handling mechanism.
- Securing an insurance licence would ensure that a business is compliant with all regulations governing insurance.
Therefore for the above reasons, an IRDA Licence is required before starting an insurance business in India.
Who Regulates IRDA Licence
The primary regulatory authority and the law behind securing insurance (IRDA Licence) are:
- IRDAI- Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India.
- Companies Act 2013 (the Companies Act)/ Companies Act 1956.
- IRDA (Registration of Indian Insurance Companies) Regulations 2000 (the Registration Regulations).
- IRDAI (Re-insurance) Regulations 2018 (Reinsurance Regulations).
- Any other relevant regulations which apply to securing an Insurance Licence in India.
Eligibility criteria for securing an IRDA Licence/ Insurance Business in India
The applicant has to ensure that the promoter or the company has the following requirements:
- The amount of capital that is required to start an insurance business is 100 crores, and the reinsurance business is 200 crores.
- Therefore the applicant must have the minimum subscription capital paid-up value of 100 crores for an insurance business and 200 crores for a reinsurance business.
- Apart from this, the applicant must ensure that any form of previous application for starting an insurance business is not rejected.
- The following other conditions are present for starting an insurance business:
- If the Equity Investment is by a foreign company or a Non-Resident Indian, then 26% must be held by the Foreign Company or Non-Resident Indian.
- If Banking Companies want to start the business of insurance, they have to take permission from the Reserve Bank of India.
Different Types of Insurance Businesses- IRDA Licence
All the below businesses require an IRDA licence. IRDA licence is provided for the following businesses:
Process / Procedure of securing an IRDA Licence
Documents required for IRDA Licence
The following documents are required for an IRDA licence:
- Evidence of Capital for an Insurance Business- that is equity capital of 100 crores.
- Evidence of Capital for a Reinsurance Business- that is the equity capital of 200 crores.
- Name and address of the directors.
- Qualifications of the directors.
- Certified Copy of the Prospectus.
- A statement indicating the distinctive numbers of shares issued to each promoter and shareholder in respect of share capital of the applicant.
- A certified copy of the standard forms of the insurer and statements of the assured rates, advantages, terms and conditions to be offered in connection with insurance policies together with a certificate by an actuary in case of life insurance business that such rates, advantages, terms and conditions are workable and sound.
- The original receipt showing payment of the fee of rupees fifty thousand for a class of business.
- A certificate from a practising chartered accountant or a practising company secretary certifying that all the requirements relating to registration fees, share capital, deposits, and other requirements of the act have been complied with by the applicant.
- Any additional information required by the authority during the processing of the application for registration.
Validity for Insurance Licence- IRDA Licence
IRDA Licence would be valid for one year. The applicant has to make a fresh application for renewing the insurance licence in India.
IRDA Licence Renewal in India
An applicant who has the insurance licence will make an application under Form IRDA/ R5. This application must be made before 31st December of each year. When an application for renewal is made, the following must be provided as evidence of renewal:
If renewal is not made by the insurance company before 31st December every year, then the application would be accepted by the authority. However, a penalty of 10 percent of the fee payable will be levied on the applicant for delayed payment of fees.
The fee will be paid into the account, which is maintained by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India with the Reserve Bank of India.
Duplicate Certificate
The IRDAI also has the authority to issue a duplicate certificate to the insurance business. The applicant has to make an application under IRDA/R4 and make a payment of Rs 5000/-.
