India’s social protection coverage expanded from 19% in 2015 to 68.4% in 2026, bringing more than one hundred crore citizens under social protection framework.
Importance of Expanding Social Protection Coverage
- Addressing Structural Causes of Poverty: Unequal distribution of factors of production, mainly land and capital, are important structural causes of poverty.
- Horizontal and Vertical Redistribution: Broad-based social insurance schemes are indispensable in providing adequate levels of protection, smoothen consumption, and allow for risk-pooling and solidarity between rich and poor.
- Support to Informal Workers: E.g., Gig Workers, and those outside the labour market with insufficient assets to achieve a secure livelihood.
- Reducing Social Risks: Gender inequality, social discrimination and exclusion, unequal distribution of resources and power within household, etc.
Key Measures Taken
- Ayushman Bharat: Around 43.52 crore Ayushman cards have been created (Feb, 2026), offering free health coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family.
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries for a period of next five years from 2024 as per entitlement.
- eShram Portal: Towards Creation of a National Database of Unorganised Workers, offering a Universal Account Number (UAN) to workers for enhanced social security.
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Along with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), it strengthens social security system.
- Simplification of Legislation: 29 labour laws codified into 4 Labour Codes- Wage Code; Social Security Code; Industrial Relations Code; Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, etc.
