94 cr beneficiaries: ILO data shows India's social protection coverage soars from 19 to 64 per cent in a decade

First Post

11-06-2025

India has achieved a historic milestone in the realm of social protection coverage, recording one of the most significant expansions globally. According ILO, India's social security coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, an unprecedented 45 percentage point surge over the past decade. read more
India has recorded an unprecedented 45 percentage point surge over the past decade in social protection coverage globally, with the share of population covered under at least one scheme rising from just 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, according to new data released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The growth translates to over 94 crore beneficiaries, making India the second-largest provider of social protection globally by headcount. The milestone, achieved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship welfare push, was highlighted during the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, where India also became the first country to update its 2025 data on the ILOSTAT dashboard.
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While holding a bilateral discussion with the Director General of ILO, Gilbert F. Houngbo on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference (ILC), Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the pro-poor and labour welfare schemes undertaken by the Modi government over the past 11 years.
In terms of beneficiary count, India now ranks second in the world, providing social protection to around 94 crore citizens. DG ILO praised India's focused welfare policies for the poor and labour class under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
In the last seven years, more than 7.5 crore jobs have been created in the formal sector in India, said Union Minister of Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya at the Plenary Session of the 113th International Labour Conference here. He added that India is building a vibrant education-to-employment ecosystem.
'India has especially progressed in the formalisation of employment. As a result, in the last seven years, more than 7.5 crore jobs have been created in the formal sector. Our employment-linked incentive scheme will promote formal employment further with an allocation of USD 12.8 billion,' Mandaviya said at the session.The Union Minister also highlighted the 'strong digital public infrastructure' being built in India.
'India has built a strong digital public infrastructure, which includes platforms like National Career Service (NCS), which is a one-stop solution for our youth and the working population. We now use NCS to aggregate global job demand and facilitate international labour mobility,' he said.
'We are building a vibrant education-to-employment ecosystem where universities, industry partners, and skill centres are being brought together so our youth can get opportunities based on real market demands,' he added.
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The Union Minister also apprised DG ILO about the national-level Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise that has been carried out by the Government in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation.
In terms of beneficiary count, India now ranks second in the world, providing social protection to around 94 crore citizens. DG ILO praised India's focused welfare policies for the poor and labour class under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
ILO's Criteria for Scheme Consideration for each country include that the scheme should be legislatively backed, in cash and be active, and verified time series data of last three years has to be provided.
Dr. Mandaviya said, 'This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the visionary leadership of PM Modi and the relentless efforts of the government in building an inclusive and rights-based social protection ecosystem. The increase marks the fastest expansion in social protection coverage worldwide, reflecting the government's unwavering commitment to 'Antyodaya' i.e., empowering the last mile and fulfilling the promise of leaving no one behind.'
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It is important to note that the present figure reflects only Phase I of the data pooling exercise. This phase focused on beneficiary data of Central sector schemes and women-centric schemes in the selected 8 States. With Phase II and further consolidation underway, it is expected that India's total social protection coverage will soon surpass the 100-crore mark upon verification of additional schemes by the ILO.
India is also the first country globally to update its 2025 social protection coverage data in the ILOSTAT database, reinforcing its leadership in digital governance and transparency in welfare systems.
Moreover, the increase in Social Protection Coverage will further strengthen India's global engagements, particularly in finalising Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with developed nations. These agreements will ensure the portability of social protection benefits for Indian professionals working overseas, while offering partner countries the transparency required for mutual recognition frameworks. This will further bolster India's position in trade and labour mobility negotiations by showcasing a credible and robust social protection regime.
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Dr. Mandaviya is leading an Indian delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, from 10th to 12th June 2025 to participate in the 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the ILO.