Insurance regulator IRDAI has granted certificate of registration to Prudential HCL Health Insurance to carry on health insurance business in India.With this registration, the number of standalone health insurers operating in India has increased to eight. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) said it took the decision to grant the registration at its meeting on June 29. This is the third registration granted during the calendar year 2026, IRDAI said in a release on Wednesday.Prudential HCL Health Insurance Limited is a joint venture between the Prudential Group (UK) and the HCL Group (India).In March 2025, Prudential had announced its plan to establish a joint venture with Vama Sundari Investments (Delhi), an HCL Group’s promoter company, to operate a standalone Indian health insurance business. The JV aims to address the growing healthcare needs of the Indian consumer and contribute to the government’s vision of Insurance for All by 2047, it had said.Subject to obtaining regulatory approvals, Prudential Group Holdings, a UK subsidiary of Prudential plc, will hold a 70% stake in the JV, while Vama will hold the remaining 30% stake, it had said. Published - July 02, 2026 10:57 pm IST