India has achieved a significant milestone in social welfare, with its social protection coverage now extending to over one billion people in 2026. This monumental expansion, announced by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, represents a dramatic increase from just 25 crore (250 million) beneficiaries in 2015.
Minister Mandaviya shared the updated figures on social media, highlighting that the coverage has grown from 19 percent of the population in 2015 to an impressive 68.4 percent by 2026. He attributed this rapid progress to the government's commitment to inclusive development, stating, "India crosses the 1 billion mark in Social Protection Coverage!"
International Recognition from the ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has formally acknowledged India's achievement. ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo recognized the milestone during the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, held in Hyderabad under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
"According to ILO running estimates, India's social protection system now reaches 1 billion people. This milestone offers lessons that can be shared through South-South cooperation," Houngbo stated in a video message to the meeting. He later congratulated India for the successful conclusion of the BRICS meeting, emphasizing the importance of social protection, skills development, and digitalization for future labor markets.
A Decade of Rapid Growth
This latest recognition builds upon India's previous accolades, including the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for "Outstanding Achievement in Social Security." At that time, the ILO noted that India's social protection coverage had increased to 64.3 percent in 2025, covering over 94 crore citizens.
The continuous growth underscores India's sustained efforts to broaden access to social security schemes. The nation's journey from covering less than one-fifth of its population to more than two-thirds in just over a decade marks one of the world's fastest expansions in social security coverage, providing critical support to a vast number of its citizens.