Global recognition: India wins ISSA Award 2025 for social security; coverage jumps from 19% to 64% in a decade

India has been recognised globally for its strides in social protection, becoming the fifth country to win the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security.The honour was conferred at the World Social Security Forum (WSSF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya received the award on behalf of the government, PTI reported."The award is a testament to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi... empowering the last person in the line, that has shaped our journey towards inclusive and universal social protection," Mandaviya said.According to the labour ministry, India’s social security coverage expanded sharply to 64.3 per cent in 2025, up from just 19 per cent in 2015. Mandaviya said the government is pursuing comprehensive reforms in policy, process, and technology to deepen social security.The ISSA award, first introduced in 2013, is presented once every three years. Brazil was the inaugural recipient, followed by China in 2016, Rwanda in 2019, and Iceland in 2022.India’s approach, the ministry noted, has moved from fragmented systems to an integrated, lifecycle-based safety net. Examples include PM POSHAN for child nutrition, Janani Suraksha Yojana for safe childbirth, PM-KISAN for farmers, and the National Old Age Pension Scheme for senior citizens.Mandaviya said India is leveraging digital innovation to widen opportunities for income generation and strengthen social protection through financial access, skilling, and self-employment.