Insurance law in India is a combination of statutory law and common law. It is meant to protect the interests of policyholders by prescribing their rights and obligations towards insurance companies. The main types of insurance law in India are life insurance law, health insurance law, motor vehicle insurance law, accident insurance law, and property insurance law. Through these laws, the Indian government ensures that insurance companies provide appropriate protection to their customers.
Through these laws, the Indian government ensures that insurance companies provide appropriate protection to their customers against losses caused by the hazard. Indian insurance law is regulated by the Insurance Act, 1938, of India. This act was enacted by the British Raj in 1938, and it came into force on April 1, 1939. The act has undergone many amendments since then. The most recent amendment to this act occurred in 2005, and it is known as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2005 (IRDA). The primary types of Indian insurance law are:
a) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act:
1. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act, 1999, is an Act of the Parliament of India that provides for the establishment of an authority to protect the interests of holders of insurance policies, to regulate, promote, and ensure orderly growth of the insurance industry, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act was passed in 1999 and came into force in 2000.
2. The IRDA Act provides for the establishment of an authority to regulate the insurance business in India. It also defines the powers, duties, and functions of the Authority, provides for the licencing of insurers and agents, and lays down the terms and conditions of insurance contracts. The Act also provides for the protection of policyholders' interests and for the supervision, control, and regulation of the insurance industry in India. It also provides for the establishment of an insurance ombudsman to settle disputes between policyholders and insurers.
b) Life Insurance Corporation Act:
1. The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, is Indian legislation that regulates all life insurance businesses in India. The act was passed in 1956 with the aim of spreading life insurance much more widely and reaching rural areas with a view to reaching out to the vast masses of India. The act also aimed to provide adequate and reasonable facilities for insurance for the common man.
2. The act created the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which was given the exclusive right to transact life insurance business in India. The act also outlines the duties, powers, and obligations of the LIC. The act also provides for the formation of the Life Insurance Council, which is the governing body of the life insurance industry in India. The act also provides for the formation of the Life Insurance Advisory Board, which is responsible for the supervision and regulation of the life insurance business in India.
c) Insurance Act:
1. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is the statutory authority responsible for regulating and promoting the insurance and reinsurance industries in India. The Insurance Act, 1938, is the main legislation governing the insurance sector in India. The Act provides the framework for insurance business and sets out the responsibilities of the insurer and the insured. The Act also includes provisions relating to the formation and regulation of insurance companies, the rights and obligations of the insured and the insurer, and the settlement of disputes.
2. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment in 1938, most recently in 2016. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2015 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2015 have been enacted to bring the Indian insurance industry in line with current global best practises. The amendments to the Insurance Act aim to increase the number of insurance companies operating in India, increase insurance penetration in the country, and enhance consumer protection.
d) Insurance Ombudsman Act:
1. The Insurance Ombudsman Act, 2019 was introduced in India in 2019. It provides a platform for the resolution of complaints relating to insurance products or services. The Act was introduced with the objective of providing an effective, simple, and speedy mechanism for the resolution of complaints by policyholders against insurance companies. It provides for the appointment of an insurance ombudsman in every state and union territory.
2. The Ombudsmen are appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The Act also provides for the appointment of an appellate authority to hear appeals against the orders of the Ombudsman. The Act applies to all the insurance companies registered with IRDAI, except the Life Insurance Corporation of India.
e) Motor Vehicles Act:
1. The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 is the primary legislation in India that governs all matters relating to motor vehicles. It regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles, such as registration, inspection, licencing, rules of the road, and insurance. The Act has been amended several times since its inception to keep pace with changing times. The latest amendment to the Act was made in 2019.
2. The Act covers the registration, licencing, and inspection of motor vehicles in India. It also establishes a framework for the regulation of traffic on roads and the enforcement of road safety rules. The Act also outlines the rights and duties of drivers and vehicle owners, as well as the penalties for violations of the law. Additionally, the Act provides for the formation of a Motor Vehicles Fund to finance schemes for the promotion of road safety and the development of motor vehicle technology.
f) Marine Insurance Act:
1. The Marine Insurance Act, 1963, is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to provide for the better regulation of marine insurance and for matters connected therewith. The Act is comprehensive legislation on marine insurance and is modelled on the United Kingdom's Marine Insurance Act, 1906. The Act is applicable to the whole of India and applies to all marine insurance contracts, including contracts of indemnity or guarantee and contracts of reinsurance.
2. It applies to contracts of marine insurance made in India as well as outside India, provided they relate to any marine adventure or concern any ship or goods within India or are subject to the maritime laws of India. The Act is administered by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
g) Insurance Claims Settlement and Surveyors Act:
1. The Insurance Claims Settlement and Surveyors Act, 1964, is an Act of the Parliament of India that regulates the activities of surveyors and loss assessors employed in the insurance industry. The Act also provides for the licencing and registration of surveyors and loss assessors. The Act was passed to ensure fair dealing between insurance companies and their customers and to ensure that claims are settled in a timely and efficient manner.
2. The Act was amended in 1999 and again in 2002 to bring it in line with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act of 1999. The Act also provides for the establishment of an Insurance Claims Settlement and Surveyors Board, which is responsible for the licencing, registration, and regulation of surveyors and loss assessors. The Board has the power to issue licences to surveyors and loss assessors and to cancel or suspend licences if necessary. The Board also has the power to inspect the premises of surveyors and loss assessors to ensure that they are following the regulations laid down in the Act.
