Claim Failures, Disputes and Official Sources
Official sources for business liability insurance in India: regulators, laws and portals
A directory of the official Indian sources for liability insurance, from IRDAI and the Insurance Ombudsman to India Code, GST, labour and consumer portals, with what to check on each.
The official sources that matter most for business liability insurance in India are IRDAI (the insurance regulator: registered insurers and intermediaries, regulations and master circulars), Bima Bharosa (IRDAI's grievance system), the Council for Insurance Ombudsmen (free complaints for eligible policyholders), India Code (the text of the Insurance Act, 1938, the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the labour codes), the CBIC and GST Council portals (GST at 18% on premiums and input tax credit), the Ministry of Labour and Employment and ESIC (employer obligations for work injuries), and e-Jagriti (which replaced e-Daakhil in January 2025) for consumer complaints. Always check the law and the rule on these portals rather than relying on summaries, including this site.
This guide belongs to why liability claims are rejected. We link only to homepages; navigate from there to the specific document. For how to use the complaint bodies, see Insurance Ombudsman and Bima Bharosa and consumer commission disputes.
Insurance regulation and complaints
| Source | What to check there |
|---|---|
| IRDAI | Lists of registered general insurers, brokers, corporate agents and surveyors; regulations on policyholder protection, product filing and claims; master circulars; consumer awareness material |
| Bima Bharosa | Registering and tracking a grievance against an insurer or intermediary |
| Council for Insurance Ombudsmen | Ombudsman offices and their territories, eligibility, online complaint filing, annual reports |
| General Insurance Council | Industry body of non-life insurers; some industry data and guidance |
How to verify an insurer or broker
- Open the IRDAI site and find the list of registered general insurers or the list of licensed brokers.
- Match the exact legal name and registration number with the quote or business card.
- For a broker, check the licence category (direct, reinsurance or composite) and validity.
- Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay premium into a personal account. Premiums should be paid to the insurer, or through a channel the insurer or a licensed intermediary has documented.
Laws and their text
| Law | Why it matters | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Act, 1938 | Section 64VB (premium before risk), insurer and intermediary rules | India Code |
| Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and Rules | Compulsory insurance for hazardous substances; relief amounts in the Rules (revised December 2024); Environment Relief Fund | India Code; MoEFCC |
| Consumer Protection Act, 2019 | Product liability (Chapter VI); consumer complaints against insurers | India Code; Department of Consumer Affairs |
| Code on Social Security, 2020 | Employee's compensation and ESI, in force since 21 November 2025 | India Code; Ministry of Labour and Employment |
| Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 | Applies to older injuries and as the source of the familiar formula | India Code |
| Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | Compulsory third-party motor cover | India Code |
| Companies Act, 2013 | Section 197(13) on D&O premium | Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| CGST Act, 2017 | GST on premiums; input tax credit and blocked credits | CBIC GST portal |
| Indian Contract Act, 1872 | Indemnity and guarantee; contract principles behind policies | India Code |
India Code shows the updated text with amendments, which matters for Acts changed by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 or the labour codes.
Tax
| Source | What to check |
|---|---|
| CBIC GST portal | Rate notifications for insurance services; CGST Act and rules |
| GST Council | Council meeting decisions, including the September 2025 exemption for individual life and health insurance |
| GST portal | GSTR-2B, return filing, checking that an insurer's invoices appear |
Employment and social security
| Source | What to check |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Labour and Employment | Text of the labour codes, rules, notifications on wage ceilings and compensation amounts |
| ESIC | Coverage areas, wage ceiling, contributions and employment injury benefits |
Consumer disputes and courts
| Source | What to check |
|---|---|
| e-Jagriti | Online filing of consumer complaints, fees and case status |
| National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission | National Commission orders and links to State Commissions |
| National Consumer Helpline | Pre-litigation help with consumer grievances |
| Supreme Court of India | Judgments on insurance contracts, compensation and consumer law |
Business registration
| Source | What to check |
|---|---|
| Udyam Registration | Your MSME classification, relevant to Ombudsman eligibility for micro enterprises |
| Ministry of Corporate Affairs | Company master data, paid-up capital (relevant to the PLI Act policy amount) |
How to use these sources well
- Find the primary text. If a summary says "the limit is ₹50 lakh", find the rule that says so and its date.
- Check the date. IRDAI often replaces older regulations and circulars with consolidated ones. Use the latest master circular, and note what it superseded.
- Check amendments. For Acts, India Code shows amendments; for rules and notifications, check the ministry's notification list.
- Keep copies. Save a PDF of the rule you relied on with the date you downloaded it.
- Ask when unsure. For a specific dispute, a lawyer or IRDAI-licensed broker can confirm how the rule applies.
Watch out for fake portals and calls
Fraudsters impersonate IRDAI, insurers and Ombudsman offices, sometimes promising to "release" a claim for a fee. IRDAI does not sell policies or settle claims for a fee, and Ombudsman services are free. Reach these bodies only through addresses you have typed yourself, starting from the homepages above.
Frequently asked questions
Does IRDAI decide individual claims?
No. IRDAI regulates insurers and monitors grievance handling; claims are decided by insurers, and disputes by the Ombudsman, consumer commissions, arbitrators or courts.
Where can I read the actual Public Liability Insurance Act?
On India Code, which publishes central Acts with amendments.
How do I know a rule is still current?
Check whether a newer regulation or master circular has replaced it, and look at the date on the official portal.
Is there an official list of liability insurance premiums?
No. Commercial non-life pricing is largely de-tariffed, so insurers set their own rates within filed products.
Sources
- IRDAI — insurance regulator
- India Code — central Acts with amendments
- Council for Insurance Ombudsmen — Ombudsman complaints
- CBIC GST portal — GST law and notifications
