India Wins ISSA Award 2025 for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security

The award was presented at the World Social Security Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, received the accolade on behalf of the Government of India.India has also secured the highest representation in the ISSA General Assembly with 30 seats—the largest vote share for any country. Since its inception in 2013, this triennial award has only been conferred four times prior to India, to Brazil (2013), China (2016), Rwanda (2019), and Iceland (2022).

Recognition of India’s Comprehensive Social Security Framework

The award highlights India’s robust social security architecture, spanning central and state government schemes. Central government initiatives include pension schemes such as NPS, EPFO, and sector-specific pensions; maternity benefits like PM Matru Vandana Yojana; children’s welfare programs such as ICDS and PM-POSHAN; family support through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana; and disability support under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. State government schemes, numbering 12, cover pensions and family benefits in states including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Assam.

Key statistics at a glance:

• Social security coverage: 19% (2015) → 64.3% (2025)
• Citizens covered: 940+ million
• e-Shram registrations: 309.8 million workers
• Welfare schemes on e-Shram: 14+
• PM-KISAN beneficiaries: 110+ million farmers
• Ayushman Bharat coverage: ₹5 lakh per family
• EPFO members: 70+ million

Strategic Pillars Behind India’s Success

India’s rapid expansion of social security is underpinned by four key strategies:

1. Strong Political Commitment and Vision: The Code on Social Security, 2020 provides a unified legal framework, integrating social security with national development priorities and institutional capacity building.
2. Technology as an Enabler: The JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) ensures transparent Direct Benefit Transfer, eliminating intermediaries. Digital platforms like UMANG allow seamless scheme integration, ensuring portability and real-time delivery.
3. Comprehensive and Inclusive Approach: Coverage extends to organized and unorganized sectors, including migrant, gig, and platform workers, integrating healthcare, pensions, insurance, and skill development.
4. Innovative Platforms and Schemes: Digital portals like e-Shram enable universal registration and last-mile delivery via Common Service Centres, ensuring social protection reaches the most vulnerable.

e-Shram Portal Recognized for Transformative Impact

The ISSA Award specifically commended the e-Shram portal for its transformative impact on over 31 crore unorganized workers. This initiative provides every worker, from urban gig workers to rural agricultural laborers, access to pensions, insurance, and income support.

Key features of e-Shram:

• Over 309.8 million unorganized workers registered (ages 16–59)
• Achieved 300 million registrations within three years, averaging 70,000+ per day
• Coverage includes migrant, gig, platform, domestic, agricultural workers, and street vendors
• Provides a 12-digit Universal Account Number valid nationwide
• Integrated with 14+ central welfare schemes, National Career Service, Skill India Digital Hub, and various construction worker boards
• Data integration from platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber, and Blinkit

For organized workers, EPFO and ESIC provide retirement savings and health coverage, while unorganized workers benefit from schemes such as PM-SYM, PM-KYM, Atal Pension Yojana, PM-SVANidhi, and PM-KISAN. Vulnerable groups receive support under NSAP, MGNREGA, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, and ICDS.

A Model Worth Replicating

The e-Shram portal has emerged as a replicable model for other nations, demonstrating how technology can deliver inclusive social protection at scale. Built on Aadhaar authentication and interoperable databases, it integrates welfare, employment, and skill platforms into a unified digital ecosystem.

Through South-South Cooperation, India is sharing this framework with partner countries to ensure portability of benefits and targeted social protection for informal workers globally.

India’s recognition at the ISSA Awards 2025 marks a historic milestone, reflecting the nation’s commitment to social security, technological innovation, and inclusive development.