Context:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reported a significant rise in India’s social protection coverage, stating that nearly 64.3% of the population—around 950 million people—are now covered under at least one social security scheme in 2025, up from 19% in 2015.
Key Highlights:
Social Security Expansion Over a Decade:
- 2015: 19.0%
- 2019: 24.4%
- 2022: 48.8%
- 2025: 64.3%
- This marks a more than threefold increase in coverage over 10 years.
Coverage Estimation Based on ILO Criteria:
- Data sourced from 32 central and state-level schemes.
- Schemes included must be:
- Legislatively backed
- Provide cash benefits
- Be currently active
- Have verified time-series data for the last three years
Key Welfare Schemes Considered
- Atal Pension Yojana
- PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi
- MGNREGA
- Janani Suraksha Yojana
- PM POSHAN
- Other pension, maternity, and child benefit schemes
Impact on Global Labour Relations:
- Stronger domestic coverage is expected to:
- Enhance India’s ability to negotiate Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with developed countries
- Improve portability of social protection for Indian professionals abroad
- Boost India’s standing in trade and labour mobility negotiations
National Data Pooling Effort:
- Government conducted a national-level social protection data pooling exercise
- Phase-I covered central schemes and women-centric schemes across 8 major states (e.g., UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, MP, TN)
- This initiative allowed the ILO to incorporate fresh and verified data in its 2025 assessment
