New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): India has made remarkable strides in expanding social protection over the past decade, with coverage rising from 19 percent in 2015 to 64.3 percent in 2025, according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ILOSTAT database. This represents a 45 percentage point surge and marks one of the most significant global expansions in social security coverage.
The milestone was highlighted during a bilateral meeting between Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, and ILO Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
During the meeting, Mandaviya credited the Modi government’s pro-poor and labour welfare initiatives over the past 11 years for the rapid rise in social protection. He also briefed the ILO chief about the national-level Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise, a collaborative effort between the Indian government and the ILO.
As per an official statement, India now ranks second globally in terms of the number of people covered under at least one social protection benefit, with over 94 crore citizens included. In comparison, only 19 percent of the population had such coverage in 2015.
The ILO’s inclusion criteria for a social protection scheme requires legislative backing, cash-based disbursals, and verified time-series data for the past three years. India’s adherence to these parameters was affirmed through the recent update to the ILOSTAT database.
Speaking from Geneva, Mandaviya stated, “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.” He further emphasized that the progress underscores the government’s commitment to “Antyodaya,” the principle of empowering the most marginalized.
According to the release, the current data reflects only Phase I of the data pooling initiative, which focused on central sector and women-centric schemes in eight states. With Phase II underway, the government expects total coverage to surpass the 100-crore mark following the verification of additional schemes.
India also became the first country in the world to update its 2025 social protection statistics in the ILOSTAT database, demonstrating its leadership in digital governance and transparent welfare systems.
The enhanced coverage is expected to boost India’s efforts in signing Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with developed nations, enabling the portability of social protection benefits for Indian professionals abroad. These agreements will also provide partner nations with confidence in India’s robust and transparent welfare framework, aiding negotiations related to trade and labour mobility.
Mandaviya is leading India’s delegation to the 113th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva from June 10 to 12. (ANI)
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