NEW DELHI: India is advancing towards inclusive and universal social protection, said Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, even as the nation on Friday was conferred with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for ‘outstanding achievement in social security’.
The triennial award recognised India’s exceptional progress in social protection systems globally.
India is the fifth recipient of this award, and the country joins the leading nations worldwide in the field 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).
“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, that has shaped our journey towards inclusive and universal social protection, ” Mandaviya said, while receiving the award on behalf of the government.
Further, the Union Minister elaborated on the establishment of an extensive digital public infrastructure in India for efficient last-mile delivery of social security benefits, with special reference to the e-Shram portal.
“The e-Shram portal is a National Digital Database that serves as a 'One-Stop Solution' connecting over 310 million unorganised workers with social welfare schemes through a multilingual, seamless interface, ” he stated, at the premier global gathering of over 1, 200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countries.