India’s Social Security Coverage

Key Highlights:

• India's social security framework expanded, increasing coverage from 19% in 2015 to 68.4% in 2026, bringing over one billion people under protection.
• The EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage increased from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, extending coverage to over 51 lakh additional employees.
• The Social Security Code, 2020 consolidates nine central labour laws, extending benefits to organised, unorganised, gig, and platform workers.
• Digital reforms like EPFO 3.0, self-generation of Universal Account Number (UAN), and Aadhaar seeding streamline services and claim settlements.
• Key schemes like e-Shram, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM), and Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana provide support to unorganised workers and vulnerable groups.

Detailed Insights:

• EPFO administers three schemes: Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 2026, Employees’ Pension Scheme, 2026, and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 2026.
• The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 2026 provides insurance protection up to ₹7 lakh in case of death in service, without requiring a separate premium.
• EPFO's contributing membership rose from 3.49 crore in 2014-15 to approximately 7.98 crore by September 2026.
• Partial withdrawal rules were simplified into three categories: Essential Needs, Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances, with liberalised limits for education and marriage.
• Automated claim settlement limit for eligible advance claims increased to ₹5 lakh, enabling faster processing without manual intervention.
• VISHWAS, 2026 facilitates one-time settlement of eligible disputes involving damages or penalties under the EPF & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and the Code on Social Security, 2020.
• AMNESTY, 2026 is a one-time scheme to help establishments regularise their provident fund trusts by obtaining retrospective exemption.
• Automatic EPFO registration is available for eligible companies through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal via SPICe+ and AGILE-PRO forms.
• UAN self-generation and activation are enabled through Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology via the UMANG mobile application.
• The Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) allows pension disbursement through any bank branch across India, benefiting pensioners who relocate.
• Doorstep Digital Life Certificate services are provided to EPS pensioners in partnership with India Post Payments Bank, free of cost.
• EPFO 3.0 aims to modernise services with a core banking solution, cloud-native modules, and API-first architecture for faster claim processing.
• Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, revised from the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), provides pensions for elderly, widows, and disabled, and family benefits.
• The Code on Social Security, 2020 includes provisions for gratuity for fixed-term employees and maternity benefits up to 26 weeks.
• e-Shram is India’s first Aadhaar-seeded National Database of Unorganised Workers, integrating 15 social security schemes and connecting workers to job and skilling platforms.
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers, providing ₹3,000 monthly pension after 60 years of age.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): A statutory body administering provident fund, pension, and insurance schemes for eligible workers in India.
• Social Security Code, 2020: Consolidates nine central labour laws to provide a unified framework for social security benefits for all workers.
• Universal Account Number (UAN): A unique, permanent number assigned to an EPFO member, linking their provident fund accounts across different employers.
• e-Shram: India's first Aadhaar-seeded National Database of Unorganised Workers, providing a platform for social security and welfare schemes.
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM): A voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers ensuring old-age income security.