Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999
14. Duties, powers and functions of Authority
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law for
the time being in force, the Authority shall have the duty to regulate, promote
and ensure orderly growth of the insurance business and re-insurance business.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions
contains in sub-section (1), the powers and functions of the Authority shall include,-
(a) issue to the applicant a certificate of
registration, renew, modify, withdraw, suspend or cancel such registration;
(b) protection of the interests of the
policy-holders in matters concerning assigning of policy, nomination be
policy-holders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claim, surrender
value of policy and other terms and conditions of contracts 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
organizations connected with the insurance 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 enquiries and investigations including audit of the
insurers, intermediaries, insurance intermediaries and other organizations
connected with the insurance business;
( i ) control and
regulation of the rates, advantages, terms and conditions that may be offered
by insurers in respect of general insurance business not so controlled and.
regulated by the Tariff Advisory Committee under section 64U of the Insurance
Act, 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 intermediaries;
(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 intermediaries;
(n) supervising the functioning of the Tariff
Advisory Committee;
(o) specifying the percentage of premium
income of the insurer to finance schemes for promoting and regulating
professional organizations referred to in clause (f);
(p) specifying the percentage of life
insurance business and general insurance business to be undertaken by the
insurer in the rural or social sector; and
(q) exercising such other powers as may be
prescribed.