IRDAI circular IRDAI/PP&GR/CIR/MISC/37/02/2025 · 18 Feb 2025
Summary
Check the official recordThe IRDAI has introduced the 'Bima Applications Supported by Blocked Amount' (Bima-ASBA) facility, allowing individual policyholders to authorize the blocking of premium amounts in their bank accounts via UPI. This mechanism ensures funds are available for premium payment while deferring actual debit until the insurer accepts the proposal. If the proposal is rejected or cancelled, the blocked funds are released. Insurers must offer this facility as an additional payment option, implement necessary systems, partner with banks, and provide a standard declaration in proposal forms. The facility must be operational by March 1, 2025, with a maximum block validity of 14 days or until the underwriting decision, whichever is earlier.
What you must do
Key dates
Who is affected
Thresholds
Exceptions
If you do not comply
भारतीय बीमा विनियामक और विकास प्राधिकरण INSURANCE REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF INDIA
आईआरडीएआई/पीपी&जीआर/सीआईआर/विवध/37/02/2025 IRDAI/PP&GR/CIR/MISC/37/02/2025
फरवरी / February 18, 2025
परिपत्र Circular
सेवा में / To, सभी बीमाकर्ता और वितरण माध्यम All Insurers and Distribution Channels
विषय: जीवन और स्वास्थ्य बीमा पॉलिसियों के निर्गम हेतु एकीकृत भुगतान इंटरफेस (यूपीआई मैंडेट) के माध्यम से प्रीमियम के लिए राशि को अवरुद्ध करने के लिए एकबारगी (वन-टाइम) अधिदेश – बीमा-एएसबीए Sub: One-time Mandate for blocking the amount towards premium through Unified Payments Interface (UPI mandate) for issuance of life and health insurance policies- Bima-ASBA
Reference is drawn to Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders’ Interests numbering IRDAI / PP&GR / CIR / MISC / 117 / 9 / 2024 dated 5th September 2024 Part A (II) (4) and Part B (II) (3) for Life insurance policies and Health insurance policies, respectively wherein, the following is specified as regards “Payment of premium / Premium deposit:
i. प्रीमियम का भुगतान केवल प्रस्ताव की स्वीकृति का निर्णय बीमाकर्ता द्वारा सूचित किये जाने पर ही करने की आवश्यकता है। Premium is required to be paid only after the insurer communicates the decision of acceptance of the proposal.
ii. जोखिम कवर केवल प्रीमियम की प्राप्ति के बाद ही प्रारंभ होगा। Risk Cover shall commence only after receipt of premium.
iii. प्रस्ताव फार्म के साथ बीमाकर्ता को कोई प्रीमियम जमा / प्रस्ताव जमा का भुगतान करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है, उन पॉलिसियों के मामले को छोड़कर जो अच्छे स्वास्थ्य की घोषणा के आधार पर जारी की जाती हैं जहाँ जोखिम कवर प्रीमियम की प्राप्ति के बाद तत्काल प्रारंभ होता है। प्रीमियम के अल्प अथवा अधिक संग्रहण की कोई गुंजाइश नहीं होनी चाहिए। No premium deposit/ proposal deposit is required to be paid to the insurer along with the proposal form except in case of policies issued basis declaration of good health where risk cover commences immediately on receipt of premium. There should not be scope for either short or excess collection of premium.
iv. बीमाकर्ता सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि बैंक खाते से प्रीमियम भुगतान के लिए राशि की कटौती के लिए संभावित ग्राहक / पॉलिसीधारक से सुस्पष्ट सहमति प्राप्त की जाएगी।” Insurers shall ensure that explicit consent is obtained from the prospect /policyholder for deduction of amount towards premium payment from bank account.”
In this context, based on the requests/ representations received by IRDAI from the insurers towards bringing about operational ease in meeting with this requirement, to facilitate smooth transactions of payment of premium, a facility of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) One Time Mandate (OTM) is enabled to be used by insurers. This feature allows users to block funds in their bank accounts for specific transactions, ensuring availability of funds while deferring actual payments. This service is useful in multiple scenarios where the customer prefers to authorize a block on funds without immediate debits, facilitating smoother transaction processing.