New Delhi, June 11 (UNI) India’s social security coverage has surged from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, a 45-percentage point increase, the Government said on Wednesday.

“This progress has earned official recognition from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which now ranks India second globally in terms of the number of beneficiaries,” as per a statement from the Union Labour and Employment Ministry here.

Approximately 94 crore (940 million) citizens are now covered by at least one social protection benefit, according to the statement.
India has also become the first nation to update its 2025 social protection data on the ILOSTAT database, underscoring its commitment to transparency and digital governance.
This is expected to strengthen India’s position in global negotiations, including social security agreements (SSAs) with developed nations, ensuring Indian professionals can access benefits while working abroad.

In a bilateral discussion with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo at the 110th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the government’s pro-poor and labour welfare initiatives.

“Our ‘Antyodaya’ approach, focusing on empowering the last mile, has been central to this success,” Mandaviya said. “This achievement is a testament to our commitment to leaving no one behind. This surge is largely attributed to the expansion of central sector and women-centric welfare programs,” said the statement.

While the current 64.3% coverage represents Phase I of the data pooling exercise, India’s social protection coverage is expected to exceed 100 crore citizens as Phase II progresses, adding data from more schemes across the country.

“The expansion of social protection will enhance India’s standing in labour mobility and trade talks, fostering mutual recognition frameworks with partner countries,” Mandaviya added.

UNI AJ PRS