Union of India - Act
The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956
UNION OF INDIA
India
India
The Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956
Act 31 of 1956
- Published on 18 June 1956
- Commenced on 18 June 1956
- [This is the version of this document from 12 January 2012.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
- [Amended by THE LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1957 (Act 17 of 1957) on 6 June 1957]
- [Amended by THE LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011 (Act 08 of 2012) on 12 January 2012]
15.
/708Statement of Objects and Reasons.-To ensure absolute security to the policy-holder in the matter of his life insurance protection, to spread insurance much more widely and in particular to the rural areas, and as a further step in the direction of more effective mobilisation of public savings, Government has decided to nationalise life insurance business in India. An Ordinance was promulgated in January, 1956, whereby pending the passing of a Bill to nationalise such business, the management of the life insurance business in India was vested in the Central Government. A Bill has been separately introduced to replace that Ordinance and the present Bill lays down the permanent arrangements for nationalisation. Under this Bill a Life Insurance Corporation of India will be set up, with a share capital provided entirely by the Central Government, which will undertake life insurance business in India as a monopoly and into this Corporation will be integrated all the Insurance Companies now engaged in life business, as also the organisations functioning under the control of State Governments and conducting such business for the benefit of the public.All the contracts for assurance executed by the Corporation will be guaranteed by the Central Government.The Schedules to the Bill lay down the principles governing grant of compensation to the insurers whose business will be taken over by the Corporation.Amendment Act 1 of 1981-Statement of Objects and Reasons.-In order to control the cost of administration in the interest of the Life Insurance Corporation of India and its policy-holders whose premium income the Corporation holds as a Trustee, it became necessary for Government to vest itself with powers to determine the terms and conditions of service of the employees and agents and streamline the salary structure. Hence, the President promulgated on 31st January, 1981, the Life Insurance Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 1981 to amend the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 to empower the Central Government to frame rules regarding the terms and conditions of all classes of employees and agents of the Corporation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.[18th June, 1956]An Act to provide for the nationalisation of life insurance business in India by transferring all such business to a Corporation established for the purpose and to provide for the regulation and control of the business of the Corporation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.Be it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-| 1. The Act has been extended to the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Pondicherry by Regulation 6 of 1963 and Act 26 of 1968, respectively.It has been extended to the Union Territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, subject to certain modification by Regulation 11 of 1963. Goa is now a State, see Act 18 of 1987, Section 3 (w.e.f. 30.5.1987). See Section 48-A of the Act.2. Brought into force on 1.7.1956. |
Chapter I
Preliminary
1. Short title and commencement.
2. Definitions.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-Chapter II
Establishment Of Life Insurance Corporation Of India
3. Establishment and incorporation of Life Insurance Corporation of India.
4. Constitution of the Corporation. -
| Prior to substitution by Life Insurance Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2011 (No. 8 Of 2012) the section 5 read as;5. Capital of the Corporation.-(1) (1) The paid-up equity capital of the Corporation shall be one hundred crore of rupees provided by the Central Government after due appropriation made byParliament by law for the purpose.(2) The Corporation may issue and sell bonds and debentures or such other prescribed instruments carrying interest for the purpose of raising its working capital to such amount as may be prescribed. |
Chapter III
Functions Of The Corporation
6. Functions of the Corporation. -
Chapter IV
Transfer Of Existing Life Insurance Business To The Corporation
7. Transfer of assets and liabilities of existing insurers carrying on controlled business. -
8. Provident, superannuation and other like funds. -
9. General effect of vesting of controlled business. -
10. Provisions as to composite insurers. -
11. Transfer of service of existing employees of insurers to the Corporation. -
12. Transfer of services of existing employees of chief agents of insurers to the Corporation in certain cases. -
Subject to such rules as the Central Government may make in this behalf, every whole-time salaried employee of a chief agent of an insurer whose controlled business has been transferred to and vested in the Corporation and,-13. Duty to deliver possession of property and documents relating thereto. -
14. Power of Corporation to modify contracts of life insurance in certain cases. -
The Corporation may, having regard to the financial condition on the appointed day of any insurer whose controlled business has been transferred to and vested in the Corporation, reduce the amounts of insurance under contracts of life insurance entered into by such insurer before the 19th day of January, 1956, in such manner and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit:Provided that no such reduction shall be made except in accordance with a scheme prepared by the Corporation in this behalf and approved by the Central Government.15. Right of Corporation to seek relief in respect of certain transactions of the insurer. -
16. Compensation for acquisition of controlled business. -
17. Constitution of Tribunals. -
Chapter V
Management
18. Offices, branches and agencies. -
| Substituted subsection read as;(4) There may be established as many divisional offices and branches in each zone as the Zonal Manager thinks fit. |