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Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council under Section 64C

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Section 64C of the Insurance Act, 1938 deems the existing Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council to be the Councils under the Act. Each is a representative body of insurers. Each works through an Executive Committee that advises insurers and the Authority, and makes bye-laws on elections, meetings, information and fees.

Understand Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council

Insurers compete, but they also share common concerns: standards of conduct, service to policyholders and the cost of doing business. The Act gives them two representative bodies to deal with these concerns. One is for life insurers and one is for general insurers.

Section 64C says that the existing Life Insurance Council (a representative body of insurers carrying on life insurance business in India) and the existing General Insurance Council (a representative body of insurers carrying on general, health insurance business and re-insurance in India) are deemed to be constituted as the Councils under the Act. The words 'deemed to have been constituted' mean the Act did not create new bodies. It gave the existing ones statutory status. The section was substituted with effect from 26-12-2014.

A Council does not act by itself in day-to-day matters. Under section 64E, the authority of each Council is its Executive Committee. Section 64F sets out who sits on it: four elected representatives of the members, an eminent person not connected with insurance business nominated by the Authority, and nominees of the Authority representing other stakeholders. The Chairperson is elected from among the four elected representatives.

The Councils have general powers under section 64R. They can appoint officers and servants, decide how prescribed fees are collected, keep an up-to-date list of member insurers, and make bye-laws. Section 64L lists the functions of the General Insurance Council's Executive Committee: aid and advise insurers on standards of conduct, sound practice and efficient service to policyholders; advise the Authority on controlling commission and other expenses; and bring to the Authority's notice any insurer acting prejudicially to policyholders.

Key rules to remember

Section 64C: constitution: Existing Life Insurance Council + existing General Insurance Council = deemed Councils under the Act; Life Council covers life insurers. General Council covers general, health insurance and re-insurance business.
Section 64E: authority of Council: Authority of each Council = its Executive Committee; The Executive Committee is the working body.
Section 64F(1): Life Executive Committee: 4 elected members + 1 eminent person + 3 persons (agents, intermediaries, policyholders) + 1 each from self-help groups and Insurance Co-operative Societies; The eminent person and the three persons are nominated by the Authority. The Chairperson is elected from the four elected members.
Section 64F(2): General Executive Committee: 4 elected members + 1 eminent person + 4 persons (agents, third party administrators, surveyors and loss assessors, policyholders); The eminent person must not be connected with insurance business. The Chairperson is elected from the four elected members.
Section 64H: duration: Term = 3 years from the date of first meeting, then dissolved and a new Committee is constituted; Outgoing members continue to hold office and discharge duties until the new Committee is constituted.
Section 64L(1): functions of General Committee: (a) aid and advise insurers; (b) advise the Authority on expenses; (c) report prejudicial insurers; (d) incidental matters; For clause (d), the matters need the Authority's approval and notification by the Council in the Gazette of India.
Section 64M(1): annual meeting: General Executive Committee must meet at least once before 31 March every year; It advises the Authority on limits under the proviso to section 40C(1) for expenses of management.

How to solve Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council questions

Use this method for any question on the Councils. Anchor the answer in section numbers you are sure of.

1Identify which Council the question is about: Life or General. Check whether it asks about constitution, composition, functions or powers.
2State section 64C first: the existing Councils are deemed to be constituted under the Act. Name the type of insurers each represents.
3Add section 64E: the Council's authority is its Executive Committee.
4For composition, use section 64F. List the elected members, the eminent person and the nominees of the Authority. Mention that the Chairperson is elected from the four elected members.
5For functions, use section 64L for the General Council. List clauses (a) to (d) in your own words. Add section 64M if expenses of management are mentioned.
6For powers and administration, use section 64R (officers, fees, list of insurers, bye-laws) and sections 64G and 64H (vacancies, three-year term).
7Apply the rule to the facts given in the question, then write a one-line conclusion.

Quickest way: Section-map recall

When to use it: Use this when you have about five minutes for a short note or a part of a longer answer.

Write the 64C line: deemed Councils, Life and General, with the type of business each covers.
Write 64E: Executive Committee is the authority.
Write the composition in one line from 64F, with the Chairperson point.
Write the three core functions from 64L in your own words.
Add one administrative point: 64R bye-laws or 64H three-year term.

Common mistakes in Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council

Saying section 64C creates the Councils from scratch.
Students read 'constituted' and assume new bodies were formed.
Fix: Write that the existing Councils are deemed to be constituted under the Act. The Act recognised bodies that already existed.
Saying the General Council covers only general insurance.
The name suggests a narrow scope.
Fix: Section 64C says it represents insurers carrying on general, health insurance business and re-insurance.
Treating the Council itself as the body that performs the functions in section 64L.
Students ignore the Executive Committee.
Fix: Section 64L gives the functions to the Executive Committee of the General Insurance Council. Section 64E makes the Executive Committee the authority of each Council.
Mixing up the compositions of the two Executive Committees.
Both have four elected members and an eminent person, so the lists look alike.
Fix: The Life Committee has three nominated stakeholder representatives plus one each from self-help groups and Insurance Co-operative Societies. The General Committee has four nominated representatives, including surveyors and loss assessors and third party administrators.
Stating the term of the Executive Committee wrongly or forgetting the continuation rule.
Students recall only 'three years'.
Fix: Write three years from the first meeting, then dissolution. Add that outgoing members continue until the new Committee is constituted (section 64H).

Worked examples

Example 1

Explain the constitution of the Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council under the Insurance Act, 1938. Which body acts as the authority of each Council?

Show the solution

Provision: Section 64C deems the existing Life Insurance Council and the existing General Insurance Council to be constituted as the respective Councils under the Act.
Analysis: The Life Insurance Council is a representative body of insurers carrying on life insurance business in India. The General Insurance Council represents insurers carrying on general, health insurance business and re-insurance in India.
Authority: Under section 64E, the authorities of the Councils are the Executive Committees constituted in the manner provided in the Part.
Conclusion: The Councils are statutory representative bodies of insurers, and each acts through its Executive Committee.

Answer: The existing Life and General Insurance Councils are deemed to be constituted under the Act by section 64C. Each is a representative body of the relevant insurers. The Executive Committee is the authority of each Council.

Example 2

The Executive Committee of the General Insurance Council of an insurer group learns that a member insurer is acting against the interests of general policyholders. Advise what the Committee can do. Also state its duty on expenses of management.

Show the solution

Provision: Section 64L(1)(c) allows the Executive Committee to bring to the notice of the Authority the case of any insurer acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of holders of general insurance policies.
Analysis: Under section 64L(1)(a), the Committee may also aid and advise insurers on standards of conduct and sound practice. Under 64L(1)(b), it advises the Authority on controlling commission and other expenses.
Expenses: Section 64M(1) requires the Committee to meet at least once before 31 March each year to advise the Authority on limits for expenses of management under the proviso to section 40C(1).
Conclusion: The Committee can advise the insurer and report the matter to the Authority. It does not itself penalise the insurer. Warnings for breach of section 40C are given by the Authority under section 64M(2).

Answer: The Committee should report the insurer's prejudicial conduct to the Authority under section 64L(1)(c). It may also advise on sound practice. It must meet at least once before 31 March every year to advise the Authority on expense limits.

Exam tips

Quote section 64C in the first line of any answer on the Councils. Examiners reward the correct deemed-constitution wording.
Learn the Executive Committee compositions as two short lists and write them in bullets.
For case questions, follow the order: provision, facts, conclusion. State who has the power: the Committee advises and reports, while the Authority acts.
Keep sections 64L, 64M, 64F and 64H together in your notes. They are often tested as short notes.
Because the paper is written, write the functions in full sentences in your own words rather than as bare keywords.

Practice questions from Concept of Insurance

Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council in other exams

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

Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council: frequently asked questions

What does section 64C of the Insurance Act, 1938 say?

It provides that the existing Life Insurance Council and the existing General Insurance Council are deemed to be constituted as the respective Councils under the Act. The Life Council represents life insurers. The General Council represents insurers carrying on general, health insurance business and re-insurance.

Who forms the Executive Committee of a Council?

Section 64F provides for four elected representatives of members, an eminent person not connected with insurance business, and persons nominated by the Authority to represent other stakeholders. The Chairperson is elected from the four elected members.

What are the main functions of the Executive Committee of the General Insurance Council?

Under section 64L, it aids and advises insurers on standards of conduct, sound practice and efficient service to policyholders. It advises the Authority on controlling commission and other expenses. It also brings to the Authority's notice insurers acting prejudicially to policyholders.

How long does an Executive Committee last?

Under section 64H, it lasts three years from the date of its first meeting, after which it stands dissolved and a new Committee is constituted. Outgoing members continue to hold office until the new Committee is constituted.