The document discusses the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) of India. It was established in 1999 by an act of Parliament to regulate and promote the insurance industry. The IRDA aims to protect policyholders' interests, ensure the growth of ethical insurance practices, and foster an orderly insurance market. It has the power to license insurers and other industry bodies, enforce conduct standards, and adjudicate disputes. The IRDA is headed by a 10-member board including a Chairperson and whole-time members appointed by the central government.