India wins ISSA Award 2025 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Security’ at the World Social Security Forum in Kuala Lumpur. This award highlights India’s role as a leader in global social protection. India has made remarkable progress in social security coverage over the past decade. From covering just 19% of its population in 2015, social protection now reaches 64.3% of citizens in 2025.
India’s social security coverage has seen impressive growth, now reaching nearly two-thirds of the population. This expansion spans both formal and informal sectors, fueled by government initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable and unorganised workers. As a result, India boasts the largest voting share in the ISSA General Assembly, with thirty votes to its name.
Digital public infrastructure is crucial for delivering social security benefits. The e-Shram portal serves as a central hub, connecting over 310 million unorganised workers to various welfare schemes. It features a user-friendly, multilingual interface that makes access a breeze. Meanwhile, the National Career Service (NCS) portal works hand in hand with e-Shram, linking skilled job seekers to potential employers while ensuring that workers keep their social security benefits as they explore global job opportunities.
India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) play essential roles in the social security landscape. They provide healthcare, insurance, and pension schemes to millions of workers. These organisations have evolved alongside changing labour markets and technological advancements to enhance their service delivery.
India’s achievement demonstrates how strategic policy-making, combined with technology, can dramatically improve social security access, setting a model for other nations in the Global South.
