India has been conferred with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Security’.
The award was received on behalf of the country by Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya at the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mandaviya highlighted India’s historic expansion in social security coverage, from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, covering over 940 million citizens, as recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Further, after an increase in social protection coverage, India’s share in the General Assembly of ISSA has reached thirty, which is the highest vote share for any country.
”This award is a testament to the vision of our Prime Minister, Shri 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,” the minister said.
This triennial award recognises India’s exceptional progress in social protection systems globally. The award ceremony was a highlight of the WSSF, a premier global gathering of over 1,200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countries. Being the fifth recipient of this award since its inception, India joins the leading countries across the globe in the field of Social Protection coverage.
Dr Mandaviya also 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.
He also drew attention to the National Career Service (NCS) portal, which is equipped with robust digital tools to bring job seekers and employers on a common platform. ”Today, NCS has an authenticated database of skilled workforce, which is easily accessible for employers worldwide, and is integrated with e-Shram. This will ensure our skilled youth can access global opportunities without losing their social security benefits,” he added.