India has witnessed a remarkable surge in social security coverage, with 64.3% of the population now under the social security net, a significant leap from 19% in 2015. This expansion means that approximately 94.3 crore people in India are now covered by at least one social protection benefit. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has acknowledged this progress on its ILOSTAT database, recognizing it as one of the most substantial expansions globally, with a 45-percentage point increase over a decade. In terms of beneficiary numbers, India ranks second in the world, following China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded this achievement, highlighting that the number of beneficiaries was less than 25 crore until 2015. He noted an ILO report stating that 64% of India's population is now receiving social security benefits. Economist Pankaj Jaiswal described this achievement as a reflection of PM Modi's success in ensuring that marginalized communities are not left behind.

The ILO defines social security as the protection a society offers to individuals and families, ensuring access to healthcare and income security, especially during old age, sickness, unemployment, disability, maternity, work injury, or the loss of a breadwinner. India's social security system includes social insurance and assistance schemes at both central and state levels, including welfare payments, mandatory social insurance with employer and employee contributions, and other employer-based benefits. Schemes also provide in-kind benefits like food, health, and shelter security.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is collaborating with the ILO on a national social protection data pooling exercise to gain a comprehensive view of social protection coverage in India. Encrypted Aadhaar is being used as a unique identifier across 34 major central schemes like MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM-POSHAN to identify unique beneficiaries. Phase I of this exercise, launched on March 19, 2025, includes ten states.

Several initiatives have contributed to this expansion. The JAM trinity—Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile connectivity—underpins the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. As of June 18, 2025, over 55.64 crore people hold Jan Dhan accounts, providing direct access to government benefits and formal banking services. The Aadhaar program has created a unique digital identity system, with over 142 crore cards issued as of June 27, 2025. The DBT system has streamlined welfare payments, reducing leakages and delays, with cumulative savings reaching Rs 3.48 lakh crore as of March 2023.

Other key schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), with over 51.06 crore enrollees, and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), covering 23.64 crore individuals as of May 2025. Additionally, over 51.35 lakh workers are enrolled in the PM Shram Yogi Mandhan Yojna. The e-Shram portal, launched in 2021, has registered over 30.91 crore unorganized workers by June 27, 2025, with 53.77% of enrollees being women. In rural India, 2.77 crore houses have been completed under PMAY-Grameen, with 60% allocated to SCs and STs, and 25.29% registered in women's names.

The Social Security Code, 2020, consolidates 9 Labour Laws to secure workers' rights to insurance, pension, gratuity, and maternity benefits. It expands ESIC benefits to all sectors, establishes a social security fund for unorganized workers, and introduces a Universal Account Number (UAN) for benefit portability.

With Phase II and further consolidation underway, India's total social protection coverage is expected to surpass the 100-crore mark upon verification of additional schemes by the ILO. India is also the first country to update its 2025 social protection data in the ILOSTAT database, demonstrating its commitment to a transparent and inclusive welfare system. This journey from 19% to 64.3% coverage reflects the impact of policy, technology, and political will working together.