New Delhi | December 4, 2025:
India recorded a major social welfare milestone as social protection coverage reached 67% of the population, up from 45% in 2020, according to a new NITI Aayog report. With 950 million beneficiaries, the country now ranks second globally after China in terms of population coverage under social security systems.
The expansion has been driven by flagship schemes such as PM-Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which covers over 500 million people under health insurance, and MGNREGA, along with pension programs supporting 250 million citizens. The report credits seamless service delivery to Aadhaar-enabled digital integration, which has reduced leakages and improved accessibility across rural regions.
The achievement has sparked nationwide discussions under the hashtag #SocialSecurityIndia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a reflection of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” However, policy experts noted that the remaining 33% coverage gap, especially among urban informal workers, requires targeted intervention.
For FY 2025-26, the government has allocated ₹2.5 lakh crore toward social protection programs, with 55% of beneficiaries being women, indicating significant progress toward gender equity. The report also links expanded welfare access to improvements in India’s Human Development Index, even as the country manages rising influenza cases—though deaths remain at a four-year low.
With India’s population topping 1.4 billion, analysts say this milestone underscores the nation’s evolving welfare architecture and its push toward inclusive growth.
