INSURANCE
Irdai allows insurers to launch new products without prior approval
Jun-10-2022

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has extended the ‘use and file’ procedure for the most of the life insurance products, thereby allowing insurers to launch new products without prior approval of the regulator. This comes days after Irdai extending similar relaxations to health insurance products as well as general insurance covers. It said that ‘in its continuous endeavour towards the reform agenda taken up towards having a fully insured India, it has extended the ‘use and file’ procedure for most of the life insurance products. This means now the life insurance companies can also launch these products without prior approval of Irdai’.

Earlier when the industry was in nascent stage, it was made mandatory for the insurance companies to take prior approval before launching any life insurance product. However, it said with the maturity attained by the industry, it is envisaged that necessary relaxations may be allowed. It added that ‘This move will enable life Insurers to launch most of the products (except individual savings, individual pensions and annuity) in a timely manner according to the dynamic needs of the market’.

According to Irdai, the relaxation will result in improving ease of doing business for insurers and also lead to expansion of the choices available to policyholders. It said ‘The life insurance industry is expected to use this opportunity to respond faster to the emerging market needs, in terms of designing and pricing of insurance products resulting in more choices for the policyholders, which will further help in increasing the insurance penetration in India’. It also said the life insurers are expected to have a board-approved product management and pricing policy.

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