Parliament Watch: Social security coverage jumps to 64.3% in 2025

India’s social security coverage has increased to 64.3% in 2025 from 19% in 2015, recording one of the most significant expansions globally, Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, citing data from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Govt announces new safety mandates for heavy vehicles

The ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced mandatory safety provisions for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to enhance road safety, road minister Nitin Gadkari said in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. These include a mandatory Advanced Emergency Braking System, to be effective from October 1, 2027; a Blind Spot Information System and Moving Off Information System, to become effective from January 1, 2028; and a Driver Drowsiness Detection and Alert System along with a Lane Departure Warning System, to be mandatory from January 1, 2028, among others.


EPFO contributing members at 73.7 Million

The average number of contributing members under the EPFO has risen to 73.7 million in 2023–24 from 48.9 million in 2019–20, while new establishments added to the EPFO stood at 2.94 lakh in 2023–24 as against 1.17 lakh in 2019–20, on the back of a series of reforms undertaken by the EPFO to expand registration and improve regional coverage, Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said in response to aquestion in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday