
Ministry of Labour & Employment launches India's social protection data drive
This increase acknowledges existing central social protection schemes that had not been considered earlier.
India has made significant strides in enhancing its social protection coverage through a comprehensive data-pooling exercise led by the Ministry in collaboration with ILO.
By utilising encrypted Aadhaar as a unique identifier across 34 major central schemes, such as MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM-POSHAN, over 200 crore records were processed to identify unique beneficiaries.
According to the release, this exercise revealed that 65% of India's population (92 crore people) is covered by at least one social protection benefit (cash and in-kind both), with 48.8% receiving cash benefits.
Live Events
Thus, India's social protection coverage doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, as per ILO's World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024-26, acknowledging existing central social protection schemes that hadn't been considered earlier, as stated in the release.
It further mentioned that India's present social protection coverage assessment by ILO i.e., 48.8% is still an underestimation, as it does not account for (a) in-kind benefits provided to the citizens of the country, such as food security and housing benefits; and (b) social protection schemes administered by the States.
he actual social protection coverage of India is expected to be much higher after this data is taken into account.
In this context, the Ministry has consistently followed up with ILO Headquarters on this matter through a focused high-level dialogue. In a bilateral discussion held between the Secretary (L&E) and DG of ILO during the 353rd ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva last week with India, ILO shared that housing and food