India’s social security cover sees threefold jump in a decade

India’s social security coverage reached 64.3% this year—a sharp increase from 19% in 2015, the ministry of labor and employment said, citing figures from the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Now, more than 940 million people are covered under at least one social security benefit, placing the country second globally in terms of beneficiary count.

This comes after a national-level Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise that was carried out by the Indian government, along with the ILO.

Phase I of the exercise included central sector and women-centric schemes in eight states. Future phases are expected to push total coverage beyond the 1-billion mark, pending verification of more schemes, the ministry said.

Union labor minister Mansukh Mandaviya discussed the development with ILO director general Gilbert F. Houngbo on the sidelines of the International Labor Conference (ILC) in Geneva.

“This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the relentless efforts of the government in building an inclusive and rights-based social protection ecosystem,” Mandaviya said.

The ILO said India was the first country to update its 2025 coverage data in the ILOSTAT database.

Its criteria for inclusion require schemes to be legislatively backed, provide cash benefits, and be supported by verified data across three years.

India’s improve coverage is expected to support future international negotiations on Social Security Agreements.