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October 31, 2026 2:34 PM

India Expands Social Security Coverage to Protect Over One Billion People: Key Reforms Explained

Three key takeaways India's social protection coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 68.4% in 2026, bringing more than one billion people under the social protection framework. The revision of the mandatory EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional employees under its coverage. Digital reforms, pension schemes and welfare initiatives such as e-Shram and PM-SYM aim to strengthen social security fo...

October 3, 2025 11:34 AM

India wins prestigious ISSA Award 2025 for outstanding achievement in social security

India has been conferred with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Security’, recognising the Modi government’s efforts in expanding social protection across the nation. The award was presented at the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighted India’s historic progress, with soc...

August 30, 2025 3:22 PM

Social security net widens: Govt plans cover for gig, platform workers under e-Shram, Ayushman Bharat

India’s gig economy — projected to employ 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30 — is set to receive a significant social security boost with the government pushing measures to extend healthcare and welfare benefits to platform-based workers. According to official data, the country currently has nearly 1 crore gig and platform workers, a number that is expected to more than double in the next five years. The workforce largely comprises app-based drivers, delivery agents, logistics providers, and f...

August 25, 2025 4:53 PM

From entrepreneurs to job creators: women leading India’s growth story

Women are emerging as the backbone of India’s economic growth, with rising workforce participation, entrepreneurial ventures, and leadership roles driving the nation’s march towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the women’s workforce participation rate (WPR) has nearly doubled from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24. The unemployment rate for women has also dropped from 5.6% to 3.2% in the same period. Rural India has witnessed the sharpest r...