India's social protection coverage reaches over 100 crore citizens in 2026: Labour Minister Mandaviya

New Delhi: India's social protection coverage increased to over 100 crore citizens in 2026, up from 25 crore in 2015, according to Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The minister, in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, highlighted the landmark validation of the country's social security landscape by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

"India breaches 1 billion mark in Social Protection Coverage!" Mandaviya wrote on X, thanking ILO Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo "for acknowledging India's efforts towards expanding social protection coverage".


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In the same post, the minister laid out the scale of the shift: "Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India's social protection coverage has grown from 25 crore citizens (19 per cent) in 2015 to over 100 crore citizens (68.4 per cent) in 2026, reflecting the Modi government's commitment to Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.

The numbers mark one of the steepest expansions of social security coverage recorded anywhere, taking India from covering less than a fifth of its population a little over a decade ago, to covering more than two-thirds of it today.

India was conferred with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for 'Outstanding Achievement in Social Security' in Malaysia in October 2025, for the expansion of social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, reaching over 940 million citizens as of last year, as noted by the ILO.

The new milestone was formally recognised by the ILO's Director-General in a video message to the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday, held under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.

"According to ILO running estimates, India's social protection system now reaches 1 billion people. This milestone offers lessons that can be shared through South-South cooperation," Houngbo said in his message.

Houngbo followed up the video message with a post on X congratulating India on the outcome of the ministerial meeting.

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"I congratulate India on the successful conclusions of the #BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers' Meetings," he said, adding that preparing labour markets for the future requires a focus on social protection, skills, & harnessing digitalisation for decent work.