Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that India is moving closer to universal and comprehensive social protection, even as the country received the coveted International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for “outstanding achievement in social security” on Friday.
India’s remarkable advancements in social protection systems around the world were acknowledged by the triennial award.
As the fifth recipient of this accolade, India now stands alongside the world’s top nations in terms of social protection coverage.
Addressing the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, Mandaviya, Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs, highlighted India’s historic expansion in social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025 — which covers over 940 million citizens, as recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
While accepting the award on behalf of the government, Mandaviya stated, “This award is a testament to the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to our guiding principle of Antyodaya, empowering the last person in the line, which has shaped our journey towards inclusive and universal social protection.”
With particular reference to the e-Shram portal, the Union Minister also went into detail on the development of a comprehensive digital public infrastructure in India for the effective last-mile delivery of social security benefits.
At the world’s largest gathering of more than 1,200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countries, he said, “The e-Shram portal is a National Digital Database that serves as a ‘One-Stop Solution’ connecting over 310 million unorganized workers with social welfare schemes through a multilingual, seamless interface.”
Additionally, Mandaviya highlighted the National Career Service (NCS) portal, which has strong digital tools to connect businesses and job seekers.
Employers throughout the world can readily access NCS’s authorized database of skilled workers, which is connected with e-Shram. This would guarantee that our talented young people can take advantage of possibilities around the world without losing their social security benefits,” he said.
Mandaviya emphasized the importance of India’s two main social security organizations, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), in offering a variety of healthcare, insurance, and pension plans to the country’s workers during the Summit’s plenary session.
He also discussed how social security is changing in tandem with developments in the labor economy and technology.
“With extensive procedure, policy, and digital reforms, we are bolstering our social security. Through a comprehensive strategy that incorporates financial access, skill development, self-employment, and digital innovation, India is using technology to generate new revenue streams and a social safety net, the Minister stated.
He went on to say, “India is at the forefront, ready to inspire the youth of the world and shape the future.”
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