The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a formal order against Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company Limited after identifying governance lapses during a thematic remote inspection. The inspection, conducted between 10~13 January 2022, revealed violations of corporate governance norms and regulatory guidelines under the Insurance Act, 1938.
Background of the Case
The inspection report was shared with the insurer on 21 January 2022, and initial responses were received on 15 February 2022. After reviewing the submissions, IRDAI issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) on 26 November 2024, followed by a personal hearing on 10 February 2025 before two Whole-Time Members of the Authority. The final order was passed on 25 November 2025.
Key Findings and Charges
Charge 1: Auditor Remuneration
IRDAI observed that the remuneration paid to Joint Statutory Auditors was not recommended or approved by the Audit Committee or the Board, as required under the Corporate Governance Guidelines. Instead, the Board authorized the CEO and CFO to decide the remuneration, which could lead to a conflict of interest and compromise auditor independence.
Amounts Paid:
- 2018-19: ₹62.95 lakh
- 2019-20: ₹1.03 crore
- 2020-21: ₹85.94 lakh
The insurer argued that shareholders had authorized the CEO and CFO to finalize auditor fees and that the fees were benchmarked to industry standards. They also confirmed corrective action from 2022 onwards, ensuring Audit Committee and Board approval.
IRDAI Decision: The insurer was warned and advised to comply with the Master Circular on Corporate Governance (2024). Any future lapses will attract strict regulatory action.
Charge 2: Policyholders Protection Committee (PPC) Oversight
The inspection revealed that the PPC failed to review repudiated claims and reasons for high surrender amounts, as mandated by governance guidelines. Additionally, agenda notes on claim repudiation appeared to be added after inspection queries, raising doubts about completeness.
Post-hearing, the insurer submitted SOPs, process notes, and PPC meeting extracts. However, IRDAI noted that the minutes provided were incomplete and that repudiation statistics were only “noted” rather than “reviewed,” violating Clause 7.4 of the Corporate Governance Guidelines.
IRDAI Decision: The insurer was warned and directed to:
- Review SOPs for auto-surrender and foreclosure.
- Improve underwriting practices to reduce repudiations.
- Implement systems to minimize unclaimed amounts.
Summary of Decisions
| Charge | Violation | Decision |
| 1 | Clause 6 & 7.1 of Corporate Governance Guidelines | Warning & Advisory |
| 2 | Clause 7.4 of Corporate Governance Guidelines | Warning & Advisory |
Next Steps
The insurer must:
- Place this order before its Board and share meeting minutes with IRDAI.
- Submit an Action Taken Report within 90 days.
Any recurrence of similar lapses will invite stringent regulatory action.
Appeal Provision
If aggrieved, the insurer may appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal under Section 110 of the Insurance Act, 1938.
IRDAI Order dated 25/11/2025: Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Co Ltd
The insurance regulator (IRDAI) found serious mistakes at Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, but it took them almost four years to do anything about it.
What went wrong:
1. The company let the CEO and CFO decide how much to pay the auditors instead of the board or audit committee. This is not allowed because it can create conflicts of interest.
2. The committee that’s supposed to protect customers didn’t properly check why so many claims were rejected or why many people were giving up their policies early.
After a very long delay (inspection in 2022 → final order in November 2025), IRDAI’s punishment was… just a warning letter. No fine, no real penalty, nobody got into personal trouble.
In plain words: a big insurance company broke important rules for years, got caught, and basically got told “please don’t do it again.” That’s it.
It feels like the regulator is moving too slowly and acting too softly, especially when ordinary customers are the ones who lose out when these rules are ignored. God bless India and Indians.