India has been awarded the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for its landmark achievements in expanding and strengthening social protection systems. The recognition, presented at the World Social Security Forum in Kuala Lumpur, highlights India’s success in moving from limited welfare coverage to a robust, digitally enabled ecosystem serving millions. Over the past decade, the country has expanded social security reach from 19 percent to more than 64 percent of its population, now covering approximately 940 million people.