India has been conferred the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for “Outstanding Achievement in Social Security,” recognising the country’s rapid expansion of social protection coverage from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, benefiting over 940 million citizens. The award was presented at the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 in Malaysia, a premier global platform attended by over 1,200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countries.
Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, received the award on behalf of the Government of India, highlighting the vision of inclusive growth and Antyodaya, ensuring empowerment of the last person in the line. India’s transformative digital initiatives, including the e-Shram portal with over 310 million unorganised sector workers registered and the National Career Service (NCS) portal for linking skilled talent with employers, were lauded as key drivers of this achievement.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasised India’s holistic approach to social security, combining financial access, skilling, self-employment opportunities, and technology to create a robust social protection net. The Minister also highlighted the roles of EPFO and ESIC in providing healthcare, pension, and insurance coverage for the workforce.
With the increase in social protection coverage, India has also secured the highest vote share in the ISSA General Assembly with 30 seats, further strengthening its global leadership in social security. The award places India among the top countries globally in delivering inclusive and universal social protection, setting a benchmark for innovation, technology adoption, and workforce empowerment.
Source: PIB
