India's social protection crosses 1 billion people: Mansukh Mandaviya at BRICS TUF 2026
Synopsis
India's social protection net has crossed one billion people — up from covering just 19 per cent of the population in 2015 — a claim Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made at the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum in Hyderabad. With 317 million unorganised workers on the e-Shram portal and gig workers formally recognised for the first time, India is positioning its labour architecture as a model for the Global South.
Key Takeaways
Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on 14 July 2026 .
India's social protection coverage rose from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% by 2025 , covering nearly 940 million people ; preliminary 2026 estimates show it has crossed 1 billion .
Nearly 170 million employment opportunities were created over the last decade; the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana targets 35 million formal jobs in the next two years.
The e-Shram portal has registered over 317 million unorganised workers ; Four Labour Codes have consolidated 29 labour laws and formally recognised gig workers.
EPFO has over 80 million active members ; ESIC covers more than 150 million insured persons and their dependants.
The three-day summit, organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) , includes over 50 international delegates and 70 Indian representatives .
Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum (TUF) Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, declaring that India's social protection coverage has surpassed one billion citizens — a milestone he described as the result of a decade-long policy push anchored in worker welfare and digital governance.
Social Protection Milestone
Addressing delegates from BRICS nations at the inaugural session, Mandaviya said India's social protection coverage expanded from 19 per cent of the population in 2015 to 64.3 per cent — covering nearly 940 million people — by 2025. Preliminary estimates for 2026 indicate that figure has now crossed the one billion mark. The scale of the expansion, if borne out by final data, would represent one of the fastest expansions of social security coverage by any country in recorded history.
On employment, the minister said nearly 170 million job opportunities have been generated over the last decade. He added that the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana is designed to create 35 million formal sector jobs over the next two years through employment-linked incentives.
Labour Reforms and Digital Infrastructure
Mandaviya highlighted the Centre's consolidation of 29 labour laws into Four Labour Codes, which he said simplify compliance while strengthening protections. The reformed framework provides for universal minimum wages, mandatory appointment letters, improved occupational safety standards, digital compliance systems, and — notably — the first formal recognition of gig and platform workers under Indian law.
On digital governance, the minister said the e-Shram portal has registered more than 317 million unorganised workers, linking them to welfare schemes. The National Career Service Portal connects job seekers, employers, career centres and training providers through a single national platform.
EPFO, ESIC and Global Standing
Mandaviya cited the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) — with over 80 million active members and 8 million pensioners — as one of the world's largest social security bodies. The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) provides healthcare and social security cover to more than 150 million insured persons and their dependants. Continuous reforms in both bodies, he said, have expanded coverage and simplified service delivery.
BRICS Cooperation Agenda
Framing India's BRICS Presidency theme — 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' — as a commitment to inclusive labour markets, Mandaviya called for deeper BRICS cooperation on social security portability, labour mobility, skill development, AI governance and decent work standards. He expressed confidence that forum recommendations would feed into the forthcoming BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting.
The three-day summit, organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has brought together more than 50 international delegates and around 70 representatives of Indian trade unions, labour experts and academicians. Participants included Carlos Augusto Muller (Brazil), Sergei Chernogaev, Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR), Huxiang Zhu (China), Masale Godfrey Selematsela (South Africa), Yuki Otsuji of ILO-New Delhi, and retired Justice N. Nagaresh.
Deliberations over the next two days will cover four themes: universal social security and portability of benefits, human-centric technology and responsible AI, skill development for the future of work, and women in the changing world of work. The forum's outcomes are expected to shape India's position heading into the ministerial-level BRICS labour dialogue later this year.
Point of View
But the quality of that coverage matters as much as its breadth — welfare scheme registration is not the same as meaningful benefit delivery. The formal recognition of gig workers in the Four Labour Codes is genuinely significant, yet implementation timelines remain unclear. India's use of the BRICS forum to project its labour model as a template for the Global South is a deliberate diplomatic signal, but the gap between portal registrations and on-ground worker outcomes is where the real accountability test lies.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mansukh Mandaviya announce at the BRICS Trade Union Forum 2026?
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that India's social protection coverage has crossed one billion people in 2026, up from covering just 19 per cent of the population in 2015. He made the announcement while inaugurating the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit in Hyderabad on 14 July 2026.
What is the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana?
It is a government scheme designed to create 35 million formal sector jobs over two years through employment-linked incentives. Mandaviya cited it as a key pillar of India's near-term employment strategy alongside the 170 million jobs reportedly generated over the past decade.
What are India's Four Labour Codes?
The Four Labour Codes consolidate 29 existing labour laws into a simplified framework. They provide for universal minimum wages, mandatory appointment letters, improved occupational safety, digital compliance systems, and — for the first time — formal legal recognition of gig and platform workers.
How large is India's EPFO and ESIC coverage?
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has more than 80 million active members and 8 million pensioners, making it one of the world's largest social security organisations. The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) provides healthcare and social security to over 150 million insured persons and their dependants.
What is the BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit 2026 about?
The 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit, organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in Hyderabad, is a three-day gathering of over 50 international delegates and 70 Indian labour representatives. It focuses on universal social security, responsible AI, skill development, and women in the workforce, with outcomes expected to inform the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting.
