India Wins ISSA Award For Outstanding Achievements In Expanding Social Security Coverage

India has been recognised globally for its remarkable progress in social protection, receiving the ‘ISSA Award 2025’ for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security at the International Social Security Association (ISSA) World Social Security Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The Hindu reported.

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who accepted the award on behalf of the government, highlighted that India’s social protection coverage benefitting approximately 940 million people.

“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, which has shaped our journey towards inclusive and universal social protection,” Mandaviya said.

The Labour Ministry said that India has expanded social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, reaching over 940 million citizen.

Malviya also emphasised that the Global South should take a leading role in defining standards for gig and platform workers worldwide.

The ministry noted that India’s representation in ISSA has strengthened, now holding 30 votes in the General Assembly, the highest for any member country.

Mandaviya briefed the forum on India’s digital-first approach to social protection delivery, particularly through platforms like e-Shram and the National Career Service (NCS), which aim to connect workers with employment opportunities efficiently.

On the sidelines of the forum, Mandaviya held bilateral discussions with officials from Uganda, Malaysia, and PERKESO, Malaysia’s social security agency, to expand cooperation on social protection and labour mobility.

He expressed India’s willingness to assist Uganda in developing digital platforms to better match talent with opportunity.

A ministry statement said the President of ISSA congratulated India on the rapid and extensive expansion of social security coverage, acknowledging the country’s leadership in inclusive social protection under PM Modi.

India’s achievement demonstrates how strategic policy-making, combined with technology, can dramatically improve social security access, setting a model for other nations in the Global South.

Please click here to add Swarajya as your preferred and trusted news source on Google.

Also Read: India's First Underwater Road Tunnel Beneath Brahmaputra Likely To Get Union Cabinet Nod Soon: Report