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Corporate and Economic Laws · Laws and Regulations related to Insurance Sector

Policyholder Information and Regulated Entities under Section 14C

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Section 14C of the IRDA Act, 1999 lets an insurer apply to IRDAI for policy related information about a person. IRDAI processes it only after the insurer confirms the person's consent, furnishes the information it holds without naming the source insurer, and may levy a fee per application.

Understand Policyholder Information and Regulated Entities (Section 14C)

Your students often search this as "section 14C insurance act 1938". Check the source first. Section 14C sits in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (IRDA Act), not in the Insurance Act, 1938. It was inserted by Act 40 of 2025 with effect from 5 February 2026. Write the Act name correctly in the exam.

The idea is simple. Insurers need to know a person's existing policies and claims history to underwrite a new policy. IRDAI already collects such data under Section 14A and 14B. Section 14C sets the procedure by which IRDAI passes it back to an insurer or other regulated entity.

The procedure has four parts. The insurer applies in the form IRDAI specifies by regulations. IRDAI processes the application within the period set by regulations, but only after the insurer confirms that the person has consented to give access to his policy related information. The insurer must also preserve evidence of that consent. IRDAI then furnishes the information specified in the application, as far as it is in its possession.

Two safeguards matter most. First, the information furnished must not disclose the names of the insurers or other regulated entities that submitted it to IRDAI. Second, IRDAI may levy fees it considers fit for each application. Section 14D then treats the furnished information as confidential.

The application can be made for a policy issued or proposed to be issued by the insurer. So it covers both existing and prospective policies.

Key rules to remember

Who may apply (S.14C(1))
Insurer → application to IRDAI, in the form specified by regulations, in connection with a policy issued or proposed to be issued
The applicant is the insurer. The person whose data is sought does not apply.
Consent condition (S.14C(2))
Processing only after insurer confirms the person's consent, including preservation of evidence of consent
Processing is within the period specified by regulations. Consent is a precondition, not an afterthought.
Furnishing (S.14C(3))
IRDAI furnishes the policy related information specified in the application, as may be in its possession
It cannot give what it does not hold.
Proviso to S.14C(3)
Information furnished shall not disclose the names of the insurer or other regulated entities that submitted it
Source anonymity is protected.
Fees (S.14C(4))
IRDAI may levy such fees as it deems fit for each application
Fee is per application.
Confidentiality link (S.14D(1))
Information furnished under S.14C is confidential; not to be published or disclosed except for the specified intended purposes
Exceptions are in S.14D(2). Courts cannot compel production under S.14D(3).

How to solve Policyholder Information and Regulated Entities (Section 14C) questions

Use this method for any case or theory question on Section 14C.

  1. 1Identify the Act. Name the IRDA Act, 1999, Section 14C, inserted by Act 40 of 2025.
  2. 2Identify the applicant. Check that it is an insurer or other regulated entity, applying for a policy issued or proposed to be issued.
  3. 3Check the form. The application must be in the form IRDAI specifies by regulations.
  4. 4Test consent. Has the insurer confirmed the person's consent and kept evidence of it? If not, IRDAI cannot process.
  5. 5State what IRDAI does. It furnishes the specified information as in its possession, without naming the submitting insurers or entities.
  6. 6Add the fee. IRDAI may levy a fee for each application.
  7. 7Apply Section 14D. The information is confidential and may be shared only as 14D(2) permits.
  8. 8Conclude clearly with the section numbers and a direct answer to the question asked.

Quickest way: Four-word recall: Apply, Consent, Furnish, Fee

When to use it: Use it for MCQs and for the opening lines of a short-note answer when time is short.

  1. Apply: insurer applies in the specified form (14C(1)).
  2. Consent: IRDAI processes only after confirmation of consent with evidence preserved (14C(2)).
  3. Furnish: IRDAI gives information in its possession, with no insurer names (14C(3)).
  4. Fee: per application, as IRDAI deems fit (14C(4)).
  5. Then add one line: confidential under 14D.

Common mistakes in Policyholder Information and Regulated Entities (Section 14C)

  • Writing that Section 14C belongs to the Insurance Act, 1938.

    Search terms and chapter titles mix the two Acts.

    Fix: Write IRDA Act, 1999, Section 14C. Section 39 and Section 18 belong to the 1938 Act.

  • Saying the policyholder applies to IRDAI.

    Students assume the data subject makes the request.

    Fix: Section 14C(1) says the insurer makes the application.

  • Ignoring the consent condition.

    Students focus on the furnishing step and skip 14C(2).

    Fix: Always state that processing starts only after the insurer confirms consent and preserves evidence of it.

  • Saying IRDAI discloses which insurer supplied the data.

    Students think more detail is more helpful.

    Fix: Quote the proviso: the information shall not disclose the names of the insurer or other regulated entities that submitted it.

  • Confusing 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D.

    The four sections are consecutive and linked.

    Fix: 14A: power to collect. 14B: power to call for returns. 14C: procedure for furnishing. 14D: confidentiality.

Worked examples

Example 1

An insurer wants details of existing policies held by a proposer before issuing a new life policy. Explain the procedure under the IRDA Act, 1999 by which it can obtain this from IRDAI.

Show the solution
  1. The insurer may apply to IRDAI under Section 14C(1) in the form specified by regulations, since the policy is proposed to be issued by it.
  2. The insurer must confirm to IRDAI that the proposer has consented to give access to his policy related information, and must preserve evidence of that consent (S.14C(2)).
  3. Only after this confirmation does IRDAI process the application, within the period specified by regulations.
  4. IRDAI then furnishes the policy related information specified in the application, as may be in its possession (S.14C(3)).
  5. The information must not disclose the names of the insurers or entities that submitted it to IRDAI.
  6. IRDAI may levy a fee for the application (S.14C(4)).

Answer: The insurer applies in the prescribed form, confirms the proposer's consent with evidence, and IRDAI then furnishes the information it holds without naming source insurers, charging a fee as it deems fit.

Example 2

IRDAI receives an application from an insurer under Section 14C but the insurer has not confirmed the person's consent. Can IRDAI process it? Also, can IRDAI name the insurers whose data it holds?

Show the solution
  1. Under Section 14C(2), IRDAI processes the application only after the insurer confirms that the person has consented to provide access.
  2. The insurer must also preserve evidence of that consent.
  3. Here no confirmation has been given, so the condition is not met.
  4. On the second point, the proviso to Section 14C(3) bars disclosing the names of the insurer or other regulated entities that submitted the information.
  5. Section 14D(1) also makes the information furnished confidential.

Answer: No. IRDAI cannot process the application until consent is confirmed, and even after processing it cannot disclose the names of the insurers that submitted the data.

Exam tips

  • Write the Act as IRDA Act, 1999. A wrong Act name can cost marks even when the content is right.
  • In MCQs, watch for options that make the policyholder the applicant or drop the consent condition.
  • Learn the four steps in order: application, consent, furnishing, fee.
  • Quote the proviso on non-disclosure of insurer names exactly in substance.
  • In a case question, link 14C to 14D to show confidentiality.

Practice questions from Laws and Regulations related to Insurance Sector

Policyholder Information and Regulated Entities (Section 14C): frequently asked questions

Is Section 14C part of the Insurance Act, 1938?

No. Section 14C is in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. It was inserted by Act 40 of 2025, effective 5 February 2026.

Who can apply to IRDAI under Section 14C?

An insurer can apply, in connection with a policy issued or proposed to be issued by it. The application must be in the form IRDAI specifies by regulations.

Is the person's consent needed?

Yes. IRDAI processes the application only after the insurer confirms that the person has consented to provide access to his policy related information. The insurer must preserve evidence of that consent.

Does IRDAI charge a fee?

Yes. Under Section 14C(4), IRDAI may levy such fees as it deems fit for each application.