Insurance

API Integration in Insurance: Unlocking Digital Policy Distribution

Summary: This article examines the increasing use of Application Programming Interfaces (“APIs”) in the insurance sector and their role in enabling embedded and digital distribution models. It discusses how API platforms are integrated for distribution of insurance products with third-party digital platforms, offering coverage at the point of transaction. The article also highlights the key legal and operational considerations arising from such arrangements and outlines the regulatory framework under the Insurance Act, 1938.Continue Reading API Integration in Insurance: Unlocking Digital Policy Distribution

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy in India: Key Practical Considerations

Summary: This blog provides a comprehensive overview of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance policies in India, highlighting their coverage structure and associated nuances. It examines critical practical considerations, including knowledge attribution, coverage for past officers, fraud exclusions and the importance of truthful disclosures. It seeks to guide individuals on their rights as policyholders and aid them in entering into new policies or renegotiating their existing policies.Continue Reading Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy in India: Key Practical Considerations

Insurance Distribution in India: Emerging Channels, Compliance, and Data Governance

Summary: This continuation of Part I delves into the evolving insurance distribution landscape in India, focusing on other channels such as web aggregators, insurance marketing firms, and common service centres, alongside traditional intermediaries like PoSPs, MISPs, and agents. It highlights regulatory prohibitions that safeguard ethical practices, policyholder-centric reforms under the IRDAI framework, and the impact of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act on intermediaries. The article underscores how compliance, transparency, and data security are shaping a future-ready distribution ecosystem that balances innovation with consumer trust.Continue Reading Insurance Distribution in India: Emerging Channels, Compliance, and Data Governance

Understanding Insurance Distribution in India: A Comprehensive Guide

Summary: This blog provides an overview of India’s insurance distribution framework, explaining the roles of intermediaries like brokers, corporate agents, TPAs, and surveyors under IRDAI regulations. It highlights recent reforms introduced by the Insurance Amendment Bill, 2025, which aim to simplify compliance, expand intermediary definitions, and strengthen policyholder protection. Understanding these evolving rules is crucial for insurers, intermediaries, and stakeholders to navigate the market effectively and ensure transparent, compliant distribution.Continue Reading Understanding Insurance Distribution in India: A Comprehensive Guide

Investment Functions of Insurers and Insurance Brokers: On A Short Rope or Ample Wiggle Room?

Summary: This blog broadly outlines the IRDAI’s prescriptive investment framework for insurers, permissible asset classes thereunder, limited applicability to insurance brokers, and the regulatory intent behind these norms. It also highlights proposed amendments to the investments regulatory framework, granting insurers greater flexibility to invest in private companies while maintaining governance safeguards. For comprehensive, insurer-specific, or instrument-specific details, it is important to refer to the full text of IRDAI’s investments regulatory framework.Continue Reading Investment Functions of Insurers and Insurance Brokers: On A Short Rope or Ample Wiggle Room?

IRDAI Regulatory Reform Series: Rural, Social Sector, and Motor Third-Party Obligations

The Insurance Act, 1938 (“Insurance Act”), includes special provisions obligating insurers to mandatorily source a part of their business from persons residing in rural areas; workers in the unorganised or informal sector, or from economically vulnerable or backward classes of the society.[1] Insurers are also required to underwrite a minimum percentage of insurance business for third-party motor insurance policies, both under the Insurance Act[2] as well as the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (“MV Act”).[3] These requirements were, until recently, implemented through two distinct regulations issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (“IRDAI”) – the IRDAI (Obligation of Insurer to Rural and Social sector) Regulations, 2015 (“RSO Regulations”), and the IRDAI (Obligation of Insurer in Respect of Motor Third Party Insurance Business) Regulations, 2015 (“MTP Regulations”).Continue Reading IRDAI Regulatory Reform Series: Rural, Social Sector, and Motor Third-Party Obligations

Indranath Bishnu and Ayushi Agrawal

Insurance Brokers Association of India projects insurance broking sector to capture a 45 per cent market share by 2030 following increased insurance penetration and the demand for insurance productsOver the past couple of years, the Indian insurance industry has seen a series of significant transformations and new developments. Modified regulations, liberalisation of commission regimes, and proposals for amendment of regulatory architecture have opened new avenues of growth for the insurance broking industry. Continue Reading Mergers and Acquisitions in the Indian Insurance Broking Space

Policy Wordings - Lost in Translation?

The reasons for lower insurance penetration in India are multifaceted. However, one of the main factors is limited financial literacy and awareness. Typically, legalese in the policy document makes interpretation and  understanding a challenge. Globally, the World Bank, OECD, and several other associations/ authorities have expressed the need for transparent communication to build consumer trust and confidence in the insurance industry. Given the current Indian demographics, the need of the hour is to simplify policy wordings to assist in greater financial awareness and aid the goal of insurance coverage for all.Continue Reading Policy Wordings – Lost in Translation?

A Review of the Performance of Surety Insurance Contracts in India

Introduction:

Surety insurance bonds (“Surety Bonds”) are a proven risk management mechanism, useful especially in the infrastructure, construction projects, and government procurement space. Surety Bonds can be an effective alternative financial solution to the principals/ contractors, who had to depend on bank guarantees earlier. Continue Reading A Review of the Performance of Surety Insurance Contracts in India