MUMBAI: Plans to revamp the insurance sector are in limbo, with key reforms stalling after Irdai chairman Debashish Panda left office in March. The post remains vacant, leaving the sector without regulatory leadership at a time when several major initiatives are awaiting rollout. The most ambitious among them is Bima Sugam, a unified digital marketplace for policy comparison, purchase, and servicing. With each insurer having invested a few crore in the platform, its launch plan is yet to be finalised. Bima Vistaar, aimed at rural bundled coverage, and Bima Vahaak, a women-led distribution model, are also facing technical and operational delays. Moves to shift to a risk-based capital framework and align insurance accounting with IFRS remain incomplete.
These efforts, meant to modernise regulatory oversight and financial disclosures, have not progressed due to a lack of industry readiness and clarity on implementation. Proposals to allow 100% FDI, issue composite licences, and introduce differentiated capital norms have yet to be legislated. Plans to list state-run insurers have also not advanced amid resistance from within the public sector. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny of mis-selling and poor distribution practices has increased.
RBI and the finance ministry have flagged concerns over banks and auto dealers forcing customers to buy bundled insurance. Regulatory audit
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