India’s Social Security Surge: A Welfare Milestone

Context:

On March 26, 2025, the Press Information Bureau highlighted India’s remarkable progress in social protection, as detailed in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024-26. Doubling its coverage to 48.8% by 2024, India’s initiatives reflect a robust commitment to inclusive welfare, poverty reduction, and global influence, with ongoing efforts to refine data and expand reach.

Key Information Points:

• Coverage Milestone: India’s social protection coverage doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, per the ILO’s WSPR 2024-26, marking a significant welfare expansion.
• Population Reach: Approximately 920 million people (65% of India’s population) are covered by at least one social protection scheme, offering cash or in-kind benefits.
• Global Impact: India’s progress contributed to a 5% increase in global social protection coverage, showcasing its international welfare influence.
• ILO Report Overview: The WSPR 2024-26, published by the ILO, assesses global social protection systems, focusing on coverage, effectiveness, and climate action, with trend data and regional insights for Asia-Pacific.
• Key Schemes:
• • Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY): As of March 26, 2025, issued 39.94 crore cards, providing ₹5 lakh free health coverage per family, accessible at 24,810 hospitals.
  • PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): By December 2024, delivers free food grains to 80.67 crore people, nearing its 81.35 crore target, launched to mitigate COVID-19 economic impacts.
  • eShram Portal: Since August 26, 2021, registered 30.68 crore unorganised workers by March 3, 2025 (53.68% women), offering a Universal Account Number for social security access.
  • Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Launched May 9, 2015, enrolled 7.25 crore beneficiaries by December 31, 2024, with a ₹43,369.98 crore corpus, alongside PMJJBY and PMSBY, enhancing security for the underprivileged.
• Poverty Reduction: Over the last decade, 24.8 crore people escaped multi-dimensional poverty due to these social security measures.
• Data Pooling Initiative: Launched March 19, 2025, by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Phase 01 targets ten states (Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat) to consolidate welfare data.
• Data Scale: Processed over 200 crore records using encrypted Aadhaar across 34 major schemes, including MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM POSHAN.
• Coverage Gaps: ILO’s 48.8% estimate excludes in-kind benefits (e.g., food security, housing) and state schemes, suggesting actual coverage may be higher.
• ILO Dialogue: At the 353rd ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva, India pushed for including housing and food security in future ILO assessments, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Future Outlook: Collaboration with the ILO and state governments aims to refine India’s social protection framework, enhancing data accuracy and welfare reach.
• Conclusion: India’s doubled coverage reflects a blend of health, food, and financial security initiatives, positioning it as a model for welfare-driven economic growth.

Key Terms:

• Social Protection: Systems providing financial or in-kind support to ensure security and welfare.
• ILO: International Labour Organization, a UN agency focused on labour rights and social justice.
• WSPR 2024-26: World Social Protection Report assessing global welfare systems and trends.
• Ayushman Bharat: Health insurance scheme offering ₹5 lakh coverage per family.
• PMGKAY: Free food grain distribution program for vulnerable populations.
• eShram Portal: Database providing social security access to unorganised workers.
• Atal Pension Yojana: Pension scheme targeting the poor and unorganised sector.