Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 15, highlighted what he described as a major expansion of India’s social security coverage over the past decade, saying the number of people covered had increased from around 25 crore before 2014 to 100 crore within a decade.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said the objective of building a developed India could only be achieved when the benefits of economic growth and government programmes reached every section of society.
The Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the last-mile delivery of welfare schemes, saying development should not remain limited to certain sections or regions.
“Before 2014, only 25 crore people had social security cover,” PM Modi said, highlighting the increase to 100 crore people covered within a decade.
The figure, he said, reflected the expansion of welfare and social protection mechanisms across the country.
Focus on last-mile delivery
PM Modi said inclusive development remained at the centre of the government’s vision of a Viksit Bharat, or developed India.
He stressed that the benefits of development needed to reach the last person, particularly people who may traditionally have faced barriers in accessing government services.
The expansion of social security has been a major component of India’s welfare policy, covering areas such as healthcare, financial protection and access to basic services.
The Prime Minister’s remarks placed the scale of coverage at the centre of his Independence Day message, presenting the increase from 25 crore to 100 crore beneficiaries as an indicator of the widening reach of social protection.
The emphasis on last-mile delivery also reflects the growing role of digital systems in identifying beneficiaries, transferring benefits and making government services accessible.
Ayushman Bharat and healthcare for senior citizens
Among the welfare initiatives highlighted by PM Modi was Ayushman Bharat.
He specifically referred to the expansion of healthcare coverage for senior citizens aged 70 years and above, under which eligible beneficiaries receive free healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh.
Healthcare expenses can impose a significant financial burden on elderly people and their families, particularly when treatment involves hospitalisation or long-term medical care.
The expansion of health coverage for senior citizens is therefore aimed at providing greater financial protection to an age group that can face higher healthcare requirements.
PM Modi presented the initiative as part of the government’s broader effort to ensure that healthcare access is not determined solely by a person’s ability to pay.
The focus on health insurance and cashless healthcare access also forms part of the larger social security framework highlighted in the Independence Day address.
Startup India crosses 2.5 lakh registered startups
PM Modi also shifted focus from welfare to economic opportunity, particularly for India’s youth.
He highlighted the growth of the startup ecosystem and said India had crossed the milestone of 2.5 lakh registered startups under the Startup India initiative.
The Prime Minister said the expansion of entrepreneurship had created opportunities for young Indians not only to find employment but also to become job creators.
The startup ecosystem has increasingly become an important part of India’s economic landscape, with young entrepreneurs establishing businesses across technology, financial services, healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors.
PM Modi said initiatives supporting entrepreneurship had helped create new avenues for India’s youth.
The significance of the startup sector, he suggested, extends beyond the number of companies registered. Successful startups can create direct employment while also generating indirect jobs through suppliers, service providers and associated businesses.
Innovation fund, Skill India and Digital India
The Prime Minister also highlighted the role of government initiatives such as the ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, Skill India and Digital India in expanding opportunities for young people.
He linked these programmes to employment, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development.
Skill development has become particularly important as India’s economy undergoes rapid technological change. New industries require workers with specialised technical and digital capabilities, while traditional sectors are also increasingly adopting modern technologies.
Digital India, meanwhile, has expanded the use of digital platforms across government services, financial transactions, education and business.
The Prime Minister presented these initiatives as part of a larger ecosystem designed to give young Indians access to new opportunities rather than limiting them to conventional employment pathways.
The emphasis on innovation also reflects the government’s effort to encourage the development of new technologies and products within India.
Space and aviation open new opportunities
PM Modi also highlighted the opening up of sectors such as space and aviation, along with the National Drone Policy, as examples of areas where new opportunities have emerged for India’s youth.
The space sector, traditionally dominated by government institutions, has increasingly opened up to private participation.
The expansion of opportunities in space technology has created avenues for startups and private companies working on areas such as satellite technology, launch systems and space-based applications.
The drone sector has similarly emerged as a new area of technological and commercial activity.
The National Drone Policy and related reforms have sought to support the use of drones across sectors including agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, surveying and public services.
For young entrepreneurs and technology professionals, these emerging sectors offer opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, software development, operations and specialised services.
Aviation growth driving employment
The Prime Minister also pointed to the rapid expansion of India’s aviation ecosystem as another source of employment opportunities.
He said the construction of new airports, expansion of air routes and growth in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul were creating jobs for skilled workers.
India’s aviation sector has expanded significantly with the development of new airports and the growth of domestic air travel.
The expansion creates employment not only for pilots and cabin crew but also for engineers, technicians, ground staff, airport operators, logistics workers and other professionals.
Aircraft maintenance and repair facilities can also create specialised technical employment and support the development of a wider aviation manufacturing ecosystem.
PM Modi presented the sector as an example of how infrastructure expansion can generate opportunities across multiple levels of the economy.
Social Security with economic opportunity
The Prime Minister’s Independence Day address connected two aspects of India’s development strategy, social protection and economic opportunity.
On one side is the expansion of social security coverage, including healthcare support for vulnerable sections. On the other is the creation of new avenues for employment, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The underlying argument is that a developed India requires both a stronger safety net and greater economic opportunities.
Social security can provide financial protection to families during periods of vulnerability, while employment and entrepreneurship can help people build more sustainable sources of income.
The government has increasingly sought to combine welfare delivery with digital infrastructure, skill development and support for entrepreneurship.
PM Modi reiterates Viksit Bharat vision
PM Modi concluded his emphasis on social security and youth opportunities by reiterating the broader vision of Viksit Bharat.
He said inclusive development must remain at the heart of India’s development journey and that economic growth would have greater meaning only when its benefits reached every section of society.
The focus on the last mile was central to his message.
From expanding healthcare coverage and social protection to promoting startups, innovation, digital technology, aviation, drones and space, the Prime Minister presented a development model aimed at combining welfare with opportunity.
The expansion of social security coverage from 25 crore to 100 crore, as highlighted by PM Modi, was presented as one measure of the reach of this approach.
The larger challenge will be ensuring that the benefits remain accessible, effective and sustainable as India’s population, economy and aspirations continue to grow.
