Social Safety Net Widens: Over 64 Per Cent Of Indians Covered Under Welfare Schemes
India has witnessed a dramatic expansion in social security coverage over the past ten years, with the proportion of people receiving at least one form of social protection benefit rising from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025.
This translates to 94.3 crore individuals being covered under some form of social welfare programme, reported IANS. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), through its ILOSTAT database, has recognised this as one of the most substantial increases in social protection coverage globally.
India now stands second only to China in terms of the number of people benefiting from such schemes. This rapid rise is attributed to a range of central government initiatives, which include both financial and in-kind assistance schemes.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has partnered with the ILO to implement a comprehensive national data pooling initiative, aiming to build a consolidated picture of beneficiaries across major schemes. The project is utilising encrypted Aadhaar as a common identifier for beneficiaries across 34 key schemes, such as MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM-POSHAN.
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Digital Identity, DBT, and Inclusion Driving Change
The Aadhaar system has played a foundational role in enabling the accurate identification and verification of beneficiaries. As of June 27, 2025, more than 142 crore Aadhaar cards have been issued, creating a digital framework for benefit delivery. Parallelly, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism has significantly reduced delays and leakages in welfare payments, helping the government save Rs 3.48 lakh crore cumulatively by March 2023.
The push for financial inclusion has further supported the expansion. As of June 18, 2025, more than 55.64 crore people have Jan Dhan accounts, offering them a direct channel to access government schemes and financial services.
In terms of individual welfare schemes, 51.06 crore people have enrolled in the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, while 23.64 crore are covered under the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. Additionally, more than 51.35 lakh informal workers have registered for the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana. Efforts to empower rural women through the Lakhpati Didi programme have reached over 3 crore women, and over 4 crore houses have been provided under the PM Awas Yojana to improve living conditions for the economically disadvantaged.
The ILO defines social security as a fundamental right that ensures income stability and healthcare, particularly during times of crisis such as illness, old age, unemployment, disability, or the loss of a primary earner. India’s current social security framework is composed of both contributory and non-contributory schemes, covering insurance, financial assistance, and in-kind benefits like housing, food, and healthcare.
The data pooling exercise, which began on March 19, 2025, in ten states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, is expected to enhance the accuracy and transparency of welfare spending. The initiative aims to help central and state governments better identify beneficiaries, optimise social expenditure, and work towards financially sustainable welfare delivery.
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