India Doubles Social Protection Coverage by 2024
India has made remarkable strides in social protection, with coverage soaring from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, according to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024-26. This significant increase is attributed to various government initiatives that have expanded access to health insurance, pensions, and employment support for millions of citizens. Nearly 920 million people, or 65% of the population, now benefit from at least one form of social protection, marking a pivotal moment in India’s welfare landscape.
Insights from the World Social Protection Report
The World Social Protection Report, published periodically by the ILO, provides a comprehensive evaluation of social protection systems worldwide. It assesses coverage, effectiveness, and progress in ensuring social security for diverse populations. The 2024-26 edition focuses on universal social protection, particularly in the context of climate action and a just transition. For the first time, it includes trend data, offering a dynamic view of global advancements in social protection. The report features extensive statistics at global, regional, and country levels, highlighting the benefits provided and public expenditure on social security.
Additionally, a regional companion report for Asia and the Pacific supplements the global findings, addressing specific challenges and priorities in social protection within the region. This companion report emphasizes the intersection of social protection and climate action, considering the unique socio-economic and environmental contexts of Asia and the Pacific.
Key Government Initiatives Driving Expansion
India’s social protection system has seen substantial growth through various welfare programs aimed at providing financial security, healthcare, and food assistance. These initiatives have significantly improved livelihoods and reduced poverty across the nation. Notable programs include:
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- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Launched to mitigate economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, this scheme provides free food grains to vulnerable populations. As of December 2024, approximately 80.67 crore individuals are receiving these benefits, nearing the target of 81.35 crore beneficiaries.
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- eShram Portal: Introduced on August 26, 2021, this initiative aims to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) and provides a Universal Account Number (UAN) for enhanced social security. By March 3, 2025, over 30.68 crore unorganised workers had registered, with women comprising 53.68% of the total.
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- Atal Pension Yojana (APY): This scheme focuses on providing pension benefits to workers in the unorganised sector, ensuring financial security in old age.
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- Poverty Reduction Efforts: Over the past decade, approximately 24.8 crore individuals have escaped multi-dimensional poverty due to various social security measures, showcasing the impact of government interventions.
New Data Pooling Initiative for Enhanced Coverage Assessment
Despite the reported 48.8% coverage, the ILO’s assessment may not fully reflect India’s social security landscape, as it does not account for in-kind benefits like food security and housing support. To address this, the Ministry of Labour and Employment launched Phase 01 of India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise on March 19, 2025. This initiative aims to consolidate data from multiple schemes to provide a more comprehensive view of social security coverage.
In the first phase, ten states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, have been selected for data consolidation. The initiative has already processed over 200 crore records using encrypted Aadhaar as a unique identifier across 34 major central schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
The Ministry is also engaging in high-level discussions with the ILO to ensure that additional welfare measures are considered in future assessments. Recent dialogues have acknowledged that housing and food security are integral to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the ILO has agreed to incorporate these indicators into its evaluations. This collaboration aims to refine India’s social protection framework and present a more accurate picture of its welfare reach.
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