Risk Management in Banking and Insurance · Life Insurance

Section 64E Insurance Act: Authorities of the Life Insurance Council

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Section 64E of the Insurance Act, 1938 says the authority of the Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council is the Executive Committee, constituted under Part IID. The Council is the representative body of insurers. The Executive Committee acts for it. IRDAI is the separate regulator.

Understand Authorities of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E

Start with the two bodies. The Life Insurance Council is a representative body of insurers who carry on life insurance business in India. The General Insurance Council represents insurers who carry on general, health and re-insurance business. Both are recognised under Section 64C.

A Council is a large body of members. It cannot run day-to-day work itself. So the Act gives each Council an "authority", which is the body that acts for it. Section 64E names that authority: the Executive Committee, constituted in the manner the Act provides. The words "the Tariff Committee and other Committee thereof" were omitted in 1968 (effective 1-6-1969). So today the Executive Committee is the only named authority.

The Executive Committee of the Life Insurance Council is built by Section 64F. It has four representatives elected by Council members, one eminent person not connected with insurance business nominated by the Authority (IRDAI), three persons representing insurance agents, intermediaries and policyholders nominated by the Authority, and one representative each from self-help groups and Insurance Co-operative Societies. One of the four elected representatives is elected Chairperson.

The Council's general powers are in Section 64R. It may appoint officers and servants, decide how fees are collected, keep an up-to-date list of member insurers, and make bye-laws on elections, meetings, quorum, information to be submitted by insurers, and fees. It may authorise its Executive Committee to use the powers in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 64R(1).

Do not confuse the Council with the regulator. The Council is a body of insurers. IRDAI is the statutory regulator with duties under Section 14 of the IRDA Act, 1999: to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of insurance business. The Council aids and advises. IRDAI regulates, registers, inspects and penalises.

Key rules to remember

Section 64E: authority of the Councils: Authority of Life Insurance Council / General Insurance Council = Executive Committee; Constituted in the manner provided in the Part. The Tariff Committee and other committees were removed from the text in 1968.
Section 64C: nature of the Councils: Life Insurance Council = representative body of life insurers; General Insurance Council = representative body of general, health and re-insurers; Existing Councils are deemed constituted as the Councils under the Act.
Section 64F(1): Life Executive Committee: 4 elected + 1 eminent person (IRDAI nominee) + 3 nominees (agents/intermediaries/policyholders) + 1 self-help groups + 1 Insurance Co-operative Societies; One of the four elected representatives is the Chairperson. If a body fails to elect a member, IRDAI may nominate (Section 64F(3)).
Section 64R(1): general powers of a Council: Appoint staff; decide fee collection; maintain list of member insurers; make bye-laws; Bye-laws cover elections, meetings and quorum, information from insurers, and fees. Under 64R(2) the Executive Committee may be authorised to use clauses (a), (b) and (c).
Section 64F(6): Secretary: Secretary of the Executive Committee is appointed by that Executive Committee; The Secretary exercises powers authorised by the Executive Committee.

How to solve Authorities of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E questions

Use this method for any question on the authorities, functions or powers of the Insurance Councils.

1Identify which Council the question is about: Life or General.
2Name the body: the Council is the representative body of insurers; its authority under Section 64E is the Executive Committee.
3If composition is asked, apply Section 64F and state each category, with the Chairperson coming from the four elected members.
4If powers are asked, use Section 64R: staff, fee collection, member list, bye-laws, and delegation to the Executive Committee.
5If functions are asked, for the General Council use Section 64L: advise insurers, advise IRDAI on expenses, report prejudicial conduct. For the Life Council, state them in general terms of standards, service and linking with the regulator, without quoting a section.
6Contrast with IRDAI where relevant: the Council advises and represents; IRDAI regulates under Section 14 of the IRDA Act.
7Apply the rule to the facts in the case, then give a clear conclusion.

Quickest way: Three-line recall for Section 64E

When to use it: Use this for MCQs and for the opening lines of a written answer.

Council = representative body of insurers (64C). Authority = Executive Committee (64E).
Executive Committee composition = 64F. Powers of Council = 64R.
Regulator = IRDAI (Section 14, IRDA Act). Council advises; IRDAI regulates.

Common mistakes in Authorities of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E

Saying the Life Insurance Council itself is the "authority" under Section 64E.
The section heading mentions the Councils, so students read it as naming them.
Fix: Remember that 64E names the Executive Committee as the authority of each Council.
Treating the Life Insurance Council as a regulator that registers or penalises insurers.
Both the Council and IRDAI deal with insurers, so their roles blur.
Fix: Registration, inspection and penalties belong to IRDAI. The Council is a representative body that aids, advises and reports to IRDAI.
Listing the Tariff Committee as an authority today.
Old books and notes carry the earlier wording.
Fix: The words on the Tariff Committee and other committees were omitted in 1968. Only the Executive Committee is named.
Mixing the compositions of the Life and General Executive Committees.
Both are in Section 64F with similar wording.
Fix: Life: 4 elected, 1 eminent person, 3 nominees, plus one each from self-help groups and Co-operative Societies. General: 4 elected, 1 eminent person, 4 nominees including surveyors, loss assessors and third party administrators.
Quoting Section 64L functions as functions of the Life Insurance Council.
64L is the only functions section in the supplied text and students apply it to both Councils.
Fix: 64L applies to the Executive Committee of the General Insurance Council. Do not attach it to the Life Council.

Worked examples

Example 1

State the authority of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E and describe how it is composed. Who chairs it?

Show the solution

Section 64E names the Executive Committee as the authority of the Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council.
Under Section 64F(1), the Life Council's Executive Committee has four representatives elected by Council members in their individual capacity.
It also has one eminent person not connected with insurance business, nominated by IRDAI.
Three persons representing insurance agents, intermediaries and policyholders are nominated by IRDAI.
One representative each comes from self-help groups and Insurance Co-operative Societies.
One of the four elected representatives is elected Chairperson.

Answer: The authority is the Executive Committee. It has 4 elected members, 1 eminent person, 3 IRDAI nominees, and one each from self-help groups and Co-operative Societies, which makes 10 members in all. The Chairperson is chosen from the four elected members.

Example 2

The members of a group fail to elect their representative to the Executive Committee of the General Insurance Council. A member insurer also wants its own officer to attend a Council meeting for it. Advise on both points.

Show the solution

Under Section 64F(3), if a body fails to elect any member of the Executive Committee, IRDAI may nominate a person to fill the vacancy.
The nominated person is deemed a member as if duly elected.
Under Section 64D, a member of the Council may authorise any of its officers to act as its representative at any meeting of the Council.
So the insurer may send its officer, if it authorises that officer.

Answer: IRDAI may nominate a person to fill the vacancy, and that person is deemed duly elected. The insurer may lawfully authorise its officer to represent it at the Council meeting.

Exam tips

In MCQs, the usual trap is "authority": the answer is the Executive Committee, not the Council or IRDAI.
Learn the head count of the Life Executive Committee and the different make-up of the General one. Case questions test this.
For "difference between the Council and IRDAI", write two columns of points in prose: representative body of insurers versus statutory regulator, and advises versus regulates.
Cite sections only where sure: 64C, 64D, 64E, 64F, 64R, and 64L for the General Council. Otherwise describe the rule in words.

Practice questions from Life Insurance

Authorities of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

CS ProfessionalLife Insurance Council and General Insurance Council

Authorities of the Life Insurance Council under Section 64E: frequently asked questions

What does Section 64E of the Insurance Act, 1938 say?

It says the authorities of the Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council are the Executive Committee, constituted in the manner the Part provides. The Tariff Committee and other committees were dropped from the text in 1968.

What is the difference between the Life Insurance Council and IRDAI?

The Life Insurance Council is a representative body of life insurers, acting through its Executive Committee. IRDAI is the regulator with a duty to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of insurance business. IRDAI registers, inspects and penalises. The Council aids and advises.

What powers does a Council have under Section 64R?

It may appoint officers and servants, decide how fees are collected, keep a list of member insurers, and make bye-laws on elections, meetings, information from insurers and fees. It may also authorise its Executive Committee to use some of these powers.

Who appoints the Secretary of the Executive Committee?

Under Section 64F(6), the Executive Committee concerned appoints its own Secretary. The Secretary exercises the powers the Executive Committee authorises.