As India marches toward its centenary of independence in 2047, employment generation and social protection have been placed at the core of our mission for Viksit Bharat.
Over the past 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s workforce has been at the centre of policy, planning, and progress. This shift has led to historic improvements in employment generation and the expansion of social protection coverage.
In 2014, India’s employment landscape was fragmented, social security coverage was limited, and a vast majority of workers particularly those in the unorganised sector, remained outside the protective ambit of welfare schemes. Recognising the scale and urgency of this challenge, Modi government undertook bold and structural reforms.
Flagship initiatives such as Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, and massive infrastructure development drives created unprecedented momentum for employment generation. According to RBI KLEMS data, only 2.9 crore jobs were created between 2004 -2014. In comparison, over 17 crore jobs were generated between 2014-2024. As per PLFS data, the employment rate (WPR) rose from 46.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 58.2 per cent in 2023-24, while the unemployment rate (UR) declined from 6 per cent to 3.2 per cent during the same period.
Not just this, employment generation in formal sector has also seen a substantial progress, with EPFO data showing that more than 7.5 crore formal jobs have been created over the last seven years.
Empowering Yuva and Nari Shakti
At the heart of India’s growth journey lies the empowerment of Yuva and Nari Shakti. As a testament to this, the female employment rate (WPR) increased from 22 per cent in 2017-18 to 40.3 per cent in 2023-24, while the unemployment rate dropped from 5.6 per cent to 3.2 per cent during the same period. This shift has been even more significant in rural India, where female employment grew by 96 per cent, and in urban areas, by 43 per cent. These outcomes are the result of transformative reforms and focused initiatives implemented by the Modi Government in last 11 years. Today, more than 70 Centrally Sponsored schemes across 15 ministries are dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurship, making them atmanirbhar.
Youth employability in India has also seen a significant rise, growing from just 33 per cent in 2013 to around 55 per cent in 2024. This progress is result of robust digital public infrastructure. Platforms such as the National Career Service (NCS) portal have emerged as one-stop solutions for employment-related services.
Launched in 2015, so far, NCS has connected over 5.5 crore job seekers with 46 lakh employers, mobilising more than 5 crore job vacancies. As a result, the youth employment rate (WPR) rose from 31.4 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24, while youth unemployment dropped significantly from 17.8 per cent to 10.2 per cent in the same period, lower than the global average of 13.6 per cent. Through digital skilling programmes, entrepreneurship initiatives, and innovation-driven platforms, India’s youth are evolving from job seekers to job creators.
Recognising the Unorganised Workforce
One of the most transformative achievements of the last 11 years has been the recognition of India’s vast unorganised workforce. In 2021, Modi Government launched the e-Shram Portal, a first-of-its-kind national digital database for unorganised workers. In just four years over 30.8 crore unorganised workers, including gig and platform workers have been onboarded of this platform. This dynamic portal serves as a one-stop solution, connecting workers to various welfare schemes.
Currently, over 13 Central Government social welfare schemes are integrated with e-Shram, offering seamless single sign-on and multilingual access. This is not just technological progress, it is a shift to a governance model that puts the worker first.
In addition, recognising the rise of the digital economy, we have also brought Gig and Platform workers into the policy fold. This year’s Union Budget included a major announcement to onboard them onto the e-Shram portal and extend healthcare coverage under the Ayushman Bharat PM-Jan Arogya Yojana. With this, Modi Government is ensuring that this emerging workforce receives adequate protection and access to opportunities.
Reforming ESIC and EPFO
During the last 11 years, significant measures have been undertaken to reform legacy institutions such as the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), which were long plagued by inefficiencies and red tapism. These reforms have brought not only unprecedented transparency but also greater efficiency to the system. Initiatives such as the introduction of the Universal Account Number (UAN), Aadhaar integration, simplified auto-claim settlement, convergence with various schemes, and robust grievance redressal mechanisms have transformed service delivery and enhanced the ease of living for our workforce.
As a result of this, EPFO membership has grown from 11.78 crore in 2013-14 to 34.63 crore in 2024-25. The number of registered establishments rose from 7.96 lakh to 27.05 lakh during the same period. Additionally, the number of claims settled reached over 6 crore in 2024-25, the highest ever in EPFO’s history.
Meanwhile, ESIC has also seen substantial expansion, now covering nearly 700 districts from just 393 in 2013-14. The number of insured persons has increased from 1.95 crore to 4.09 crore between 2013-14 and 2024-25. Beneficiaries have also doubled from 7.89 crore to 15.87 crore during the same period.
Today, ESIC offers advanced healthcare services such as chemotherapy, robotic surgeries, and digitised health records, significantly enhancing healthcare access for workers.
Expanding Social Protection Coverage
As a result of Modi Government’s consistent efforts, India has made significant strides in expanding social protection coverage. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), India’s social protection coverage has more than tripled rising from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025.
Today, over 94 crore citizens are covered under at least one social welfare scheme, making India the second-largest welfare system in the world in terms of beneficiary count. India’s social protection model is a testimony to our belief in “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” where economic growth and social security go hand in hand.
Over the past 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has undertaken significant measures to empower our Shram Shakti and lay the foundation for a Viksit Bharat. By prioritising employment generation, expanding social protection, strengthening institutional delivery, and leveraging digital infrastructure, the government has placed workers at the heart of the development agenda. As we move towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat, India is not only preparing to be the world’s largest workforce but also one of the most skilled, protected and empowered one.
The writer is Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports