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Social Security Coverage in India Rises to 68.4%

  • 02 Nov 2026

According to information shared by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in October 2026, social security coverage in India has increased from 19% in 2015 to 68.4% in 2026.

Key Facts

  • Expansion of Social Security: An estimated 68.4% of the country's population has been brought under the social security net in 2026, up from 19% in 2015.
  • EPFO Membership: The number of contributing members to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) rose from 34.9 million (3.49 crore) in 2014–15 to approximately 79.8 million (7.98 crore) in September 2026.
  • Registered Establishments: Around 768,000 establishments were contributing to the EPFO as of September 2026.
  • Number of Pensioners: Beneficiaries receiving pensions under the EPFO rose from 5.104 million (51.04 lakh) in 2014–15 to nearly 8.2 million (82 lakh) in September 2026.
  • Claim Settlement: Over the past year (up to October 2026), the EPFO settled approximately 64.2 million (6.42 crore) claims, compared to 13 million (1.30 crore) claims in FY 2014–15.
  • Wage Ceiling Revision: Approval was noted in September 2026 to increase the monthly wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000.
  • Potential Beneficiaries: The proposed increase in the wage threshold is expected to bring over 5.1 million (51 lakh) additional formal employees under mandatory EPFO coverage.
  • Simplification of Withdrawal Rules: The EPFO consolidated 13 separate partial PF withdrawal provisions into three broad categories: essential needs, housing, and special circumstances.
  • Automated Claim Settlement: The limit for auto-settlement of eligible advance claims was raised to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakh, reducing human intervention in processing.
  • Digital Services: Facilities to generate and activate Universal Account Numbers (UAN) via UMANG app using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication were introduced.
  • Centralized Pension Payment: With the Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS), pensioners nationwide are no longer required to transfer their Pension Payment Orders (PPO) when changing bank branches.
  • Unorganized Sector Welfare: In addition to EPFO, support is extended to unorganized workers and vulnerable sections through the e-Shram portal, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan, and various national social assistance programs.