India has achieved a landmark in social security coverage, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) acknowledging the country’s remarkable progress, increasing protection from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025. This surge marks the fastest expansion worldwide, bringing 94 crore citizens under at least one social protection benefit, making India the second-largest provider of social security globally.
Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, presented India’s efforts to ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo during bilateral discussions at the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, highlighting the Modi Government’s pro-poor and labor welfare policies. Mandaviya also outlined India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise, conducted in collaboration with the ILO to consolidate beneficiary data across key welfare schemes.
ILO officially published India’s 64.3% coverage milestone on its global social protection dashboard, recognizing the country’s historic progress under PM Modi’s leadership. According to the ILO’s criteria, only legislatively backed, cash-based schemes with verified three-year data qualify for inclusion, making India’s recognition a significant international benchmark.
Mandaviya, speaking from Geneva, hailed the achievement as a testament to India’s commitment to “Antyodaya”—empowering the most marginalized communities and ensuring no one is left behind. The ongoing Phase II of data verification is expected to push India’s social protection coverage past the 100-crore mark upon further consolidation of welfare schemes.
India has also become the first country to update its 2025 social protection data in the ILOSTAT database, reinforcing its leadership in digital governance and transparency. The expanded coverage strengthens India’s global engagements in Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with developed nations, improving benefit portability for Indian professionals working overseas. This advancement further positions India as a key player in labor mobility and international trade negotiations, showcasing its robust welfare framework.
Mandaviya is leading the Indian delegation at the 113th session of the ILC in Geneva, Switzerland, underscoring India’s commitment to global labor reforms and equitable economic development.
