India’s social protection net expands by 45 percentage points in 11 years, now covering over 94 crore citizens—set to cross 100 crore mark with next phase.
India has been ranked second globally in social protection coverage by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), marking a landmark moment in the nation’s welfare journey. With over 94 crore people—64.3% of the population—now receiving at least one form of social protection, India has seen a remarkable 45 percentage point increase since 2015, when coverage was just 19%.
This achievement, credited to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focused governance over the past 11 years, has placed India at the forefront of global efforts to deliver inclusive and targeted welfare. The ILO’s official dashboard reflects this significant progress, based on verified time-series data of active, legislatively-backed schemes—criteria that India has now robustly fulfilled.
Speaking at the 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya shared the scale and vision behind India’s approach. “This milestone is a testament to Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership and our government’s relentless push for rights-based, inclusive welfare,” he said. “It is the fastest expansion in social protection seen anywhere in the world.”
The figure of 94 crore beneficiaries, however, reflects only the first phase of an ongoing data pooling exercise between the Indian government and the ILO. This initial stage covered data from central sector schemes and women-centric initiatives across eight states. With Phase II currently underway—including more states and schemes—India’s social security coverage is expected to exceed 100 crore citizens upon further verification. India is also the first country globally to update its 2025 data into the ILOSTAT system, underlining its digital-first governance and transparency. The ILO Director General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, praised India’s achievements during bilateral talks with Mandaviya, lauding the country’s
