India To Seek ILO Recognition For 70% Social Security Coverage Citing Underestimated Data

India will approach the International Labour Organization to recognise its higher-than-estimated social security coverage, from the current 48.8% to between 60-70%, according to sources.

India's present social protection coverage is still an "underestimation," as it does not account for in-kind benefits such as food security and housing benefits, and social protection schemes administered by states individually.

By counting the above two parameters, India's social security penetration could go up to 70% in the next ILO World Social Protection Report, the sources said.

"The actual social protection coverage of India is expected to be much higher after this data is taken into account," the Labour Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ILO will be considering housing and food security as extended indicators based on the UN-Sustainable Development Goals, therefore data pertaining to those will also be counted.

India’s social protection coverage was already doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024 as per ILO, after it acknowledged existing central social protection schemes which hadn’t been considered earlier.

To factor in states' data, a national social protection data pooling exercise has also been launched to record state specific data for further consolidation, verification and de-duplication. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat will be contacted for data consolidation.