ROLE OF IRDA (PSII-CTMAS)

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1. To (protect) the interest of and secure fair treatment to policyholders.
2. To bring about (speedy) and orderly growth of the insurance industry (includi
ng annuity and superannuation payments), for the benefit of the common man, and
to provide long term funds for accelerating growth of the economy.
3. To set, promote, monitor and enforce high standards of (integrity), financial
soundness, fair dealing and competence of those it regulates.
4. To ensure that insurance customers receive precise, clear and correct (inform
ation) about products and services and make them aware of their responsibilities
and duties in this regard.
5. To ensure speedy settlement of genuine (claims), to prevent insurance frauds
and other malpractices and put in place effective grievance redressal machinery.
6. To promote fairness, (transparency) and orderly conduct in financial markets
dealing with insurance and build a reliable management information system to enf
orce high standards of financial soundness amongst market players.
7. To take (action) where such standards are inadequate or ineffectively enforce
d.
8. To bring about optimum amount of (self-regulation)in day to day working of th
e industry consistent with the requirements of prudential regulation.

Functions of IRDA
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Section 14 of IRDA Act, 1999 laysdown the duties,powers and functions of IRDA
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law for the time being i
n force, the Authority shall have the duty to regulate, promote and ensure order
ly growth of the insurance business and re-insurance business.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-secti
on (1), the powers and functions of the Authority shall include,
(a) issue to the applicant a certificate of registration, renew, modify, withdra
w, suspend or cancel such registration;
(b) protection of the interests of the policy holders in matters concerning assi
gning of policy, nomination by policy holders, insurable interest, settlement of
insurance claim, surrender value of policy and other terms and conditions of co
ntracts of insurance;
(c) specifying requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training
for intermediary or insurance intermediaries and agents;
(d) specifying the code of conduct for surveyors and loss assessors;
(e) promoting efficiency in the conduct of insurance business;
(f) promoting and regulating professional organisations connected with the insur
ance and re-insurance business;
(g) levying fees and other charges for carrying out the purposes of this Act;
(h) calling for information from, undertaking inspection of, conducting enquirie
s and investigations including audit of the insurers, intermediaries, insurance
intermediaries and other organisations connected with the insurance business;
(i) control and regulation of the rates, advantages, terms and conditions that m
ay be offered by insurers in respect of general insurance business not so contro
lled and regulated by the Tariff Advisory Committee under section 64U of the Ins
urance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938);
(j) 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 int
ermediaries;
(k) regulating investment of funds by insurance companies;
(l) regulating maintenance of margin of solvency;
(m) adjudication of disputes between insurers and intermediaries or insurance in
termediaries;
(n) supervising the functioning of the Tariff Advisory Committee;
(o) specifying the percentage of premium income of the insurer to finance scheme
s for promoting and regulating professional organisations referred to in clause
(f);
(p) specifying the percentage of life insurance business and general insurance b
usiness to be undertaken by the insurer in the rural or social sector; and
(q) exercising such other powers as may be prescribed