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India Expands Social Security to Cover Over One Billion People

India's social security system now protects more than one billion citizens, up from 19% coverage in 2015 to 68.4% in 2026.

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Key Points

7 points
1

Social protection coverage grew from 19% to 68.4% between 2015 and 2026.

2

Wage ceiling for mandatory Employees' Provident Fund Organisation membership increased to 25,000 rupees per month.

3

Over 5.1 million new employees are expected to join the provident fund and related pension and insurance schemes.

4

Partial withdrawal categories were reduced to three: essential needs, housing needs, and special circumstances.

5

Digital services now let workers generate and activate their Universal Account Numbers using facial authentication.

6

The Centralised Pension Payment System allows pensioners to receive payments at any bank branch nationwide.

7

e‑Shram and Prime Minister's Shram Yogi Maandhan provide social security to unorganised and gig workers.

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Summary

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation raised the wage ceiling for compulsory membership from 15,000 rupees to 25,000 rupees per month, adding about 5.1 million workers.

Reforms simplify partial withdrawals, allowing up to 75% of savings for education, housing, or medical needs, and increase the auto‑settlement limit to 5 lakh rupees.

Digital initiatives such as self‑generated Universal Account Numbers, a mobile‑responsive portal, and the Centralised Pension Payment System speed up claim processing.

Additional schemes like the Electronic Shram portal and Prime Minister's Shram Yogi Maandhan extend benefits to informal, gig, and platform workers.

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New Words to Learn

11 words
social security
a system that gives money or help to people when they cannot work or need care
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
the government agency that runs the retirement savings and pension programs for workers
wage ceiling
the highest salary level that must be included in the mandatory savings scheme
pension
regular money paid to a person after they stop working because of age or disability
insurance
financial protection that gives money to families if a worker dies while employed
withdrawal
taking money out of a savings account for a specific purpose
essential needs
important expenses such as education, medical treatment, or marriage
digital
using computers, smartphones, or the internet
Universal Account Number
a unique number that links all of a worker's provident fund accounts across different jobs
litigation
going to court to settle a dispute
scheme
a planned program or set of rules
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