UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PROTECTION PLAN

UNIVERSAL SOCIAL PROTECTION PLAN

 India has achieved a historic milestone in the realm of social protection coverage, recording one of the most significant expansions globally. According to the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), India’s social security coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025.

To ensure social security coverage of organized sector workers, the following schemes are being implemented by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). 

These schemes are aimed at providing comprehensive social security to organized sector workers by ensuring retirement savings, monthly pension on superannuation/disability, and insurance benefits to dependents in case of death during service.

This Ministry has launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) scheme in February 2019 in order to provide old age protection to the workers of unorganized sector. This is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme. Under the scheme, a monthly assured pension of Rs. 3000/- is provided to the unorganized workers after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18 to 40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15,000/- or less and not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (government funded) are eligible to join the scheme.

 For the first time, the definition of ‘gig workers’ and ‘platform workers’ and provisions related to the same have been made in the Code on Social Security, 2020 which has come into force w.e.f. 21.11.2025.

The Code provides for framing of suitable social security measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. The Code provides for setting up a Social Security Fund to finance welfare schemes. The Code also has provisions to constitute a National Social Security Board for the purposes of the welfare of gig workers and platform workers.

Further, the Ministry of Labour and Employment had launched e-Shram portal on 26.08.2021 for creation of a Comprehensive Centralized National Database of Unorganized Workers including gig workers, platform workers, etc. The e-Shram portal is meant to register and support the unorganized workers by providing them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has also launched the e-Shram- “One-Stop-Solution’’ that entails integration of different social security/welfare schemes at single portal i.e., e-Shram. This is envisaged to enable unorganized workers registered on e-Shram to access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them.

So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the e-Shram to enhance social security coverage to unorganized workers, such as Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi),Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Sushri Shobha Karandlaje in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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