India’s social security policy in 2025

Context

According to the state-of-the-art statistics from International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ILOSTAT, India’s social security insurance in 2025 stood at 64.3 per cent, up from 19 per cent a decade in the past.

Key Highlights

• India now ranks second in the world in social security policy, providing security to more than 94 crore of its residents.
• Nearly 2 out of 3 people in India at the moment are covered under at least one social security advantage — which kind of translates into 950 million people.
• India is also the first country globally to update its 2025 social security insurance information within the ILOSTAT database, reinforcing its leadership in digital governance and transparency in welfare structures.
• These include schemes like Atal Pension Yojana, Kisan Samman Nidhi, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Janani Suraksha Yojana and PM POSHAN, amongst others.

What is Social Security?

• Social security refers to the security supplied by society to people and families to ensure access to healthcare and assure income security in conditions along with old age, unemployment, illness, maternity, and invalidity.

Key Initiatives in India for Social security

• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM): To provide old age security and social security to unorganized sector workers (e.g., avenue providers, rickshaw pullers, production workers, domestic workers).
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY): To offer low-cost lifestyles insurance cowl.
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): To provide a guaranteed pension for unorganized quarter employees.
• Ayushman Bharat (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – PMJAY): To provide medical insurance policy to the poorest and most inclined sections of society.
• Public Distribution System (PDS) / National Food Security Act (NFSA): To ensure food and nutrition security by imparting backed food grains.
• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G): To offer “Housing for All” by ensuring a pucca residence with primary services to all houseless households and people living in kutcha and dilapidated houses in rural areas.

Source: The BS

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)? (2017)

(a) Resident Indian citizens only

(b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only

(c) All State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments

(d) All Central Government employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April, 2004

Ans: (c)

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