India's Social Protection Coverage Rises to 68.4% in 2026, Reaching Over One Billion People

The expansion has been accompanied by substantial growth in membership, pension beneficiaries and claims settled under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

EPFO's contributing membership rose from 3.49 crore in 2014-15 to about 7.98 crore as of September 16, 2026, adding nearly 4.49 crore contributing members.

According to the factsheet, around 7.68 lakh establishments were contributing to EPFO as of September 2026, providing an institutional base for extending social security benefits to eligible workers.

Pension Coverage and Benefit Settlements Expand

Pension coverage has also grown during the period. EPFO provided pensions to 51.04 lakh beneficiaries in 2014-15, compared with approximately 82 lakh pensioners receiving benefits as of September 2026. This represents an increase of more than 31 lakh beneficiaries.

The volume of claims settled by the organisation has also increased. While approximately 1.30 crore claims were settled during 2014-15, EPFO processed 6.42 crore claims over the latest one-year period reported in October 2026.

The government said the increase reflects the expanding scale of services delivered to EPFO members and beneficiaries.

EPFO Wage Ceiling Revised to Rs 25,000

The government has also revised the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage, which had remained unchanged since September 2014, when it was increased from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000 per month.

In September 2026, a further increase to Rs 25,000 per month was approved. The revision is expected to bring more than 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory coverage, subject to applicable statutory provisions.

The government said the change takes into account evolving wage levels and the expansion of formal employment over the intervening period.

Simplified PF Withdrawal Rules

EPFO has consolidated 13 provisions governing partial provident fund withdrawals into three categories: Essential Needs, Housing Needs and Special Circumstances.

The Essential Needs category covers expenses related to illness, education and marriage. The revised framework is intended to simplify access to provident fund savings for eligible members during their working years without requiring them to withdraw their entire accumulated balance.

Under the revised provisions, members can make up to 10 partial withdrawals for education and five for marriage.

EPFO has also increased the auto-settlement limit for eligible advance claims to Rs 5 lakh. The facility is expected to speed up the processing of eligible withdrawals by reducing the need for manual intervention.

Social Assistance Scheme Extended

The government has also announced revisions to the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, which provides financial assistance to eligible elderly persons, widows, persons with disabilities and bereaved families.

Revised from the existing National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) framework in October 2026, the scheme will continue during the 2026-27 to 2030-31 period.

The government said the expansion of social protection coverage, increased pension support and changes to provident fund provisions form part of its broader efforts to extend social security benefits to a larger section of the population.