India won the ‘ISSA Award 2025’ for outstanding achievement in social security

India has been honored with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security 2025.

• India has been honored with the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security 2025. Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya received this award on October 3, 2025, at the ISSA World Social Security Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

India’s achievements in social security

• Referring to the e-Shram portal, the minister said that the country has witnessed the fastest expansion of social security coverage in the world, rising from 19 percent in 2015 to 64.3 percent in 2025, covering more than 940 million citizens.
• In addition, after the increase in social security coverage, India’s share in the ISSA General Assembly has reached thirty (30), which is the highest vote share for any country.
• The Ministry of Labour and Employment said that ISSA has appreciated the government’s transformative e-Shram portal initiative, under which more than 300 million unorganized sector workers have been registered in four years.
• Dr. Mandaviya also drew attention to the National Career Service (NCS) portal, which is equipped with robust digital tools to bring job seekers and employers onto a common platform.

History of the ISSA Award

• This triennial award recognizes India’s exceptional progress in social security systems globally. The award ceremony was the highlight of the WSSF, a major global conference of more than 1,200 social security policymakers and professionals from 163 countries.
• As the fifth recipient of this award since its inception, India has joined the ranks of the leading countries in the world in the field of social security coverage.

ISSA

• The International Social Security Association (ISSA) was established in 1927 with the aim of promoting dynamic social security worldwide by fostering excellence in social security administration. Its headquarters is located at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
• It began as the International Conference of Mutual Benefit Societies and Sickness Insurance Funds (CIMAS) and was known by this name until 1947, after which it adopted its current name.

Ministry of Ayush presented the National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Awards 2025

• The Ministry of Ayush presented the National Dhanvantari Ayurveda Awards 2025 to Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, Vaidya Neelakandan Moos E.T., and Vaidya Bhavana.
• These awards are given to individuals who have made influential contributions in the promotion, preservation, and advancement of Ayurveda. This year’s awardees represent a unique blend of classical scholarship, living tradition, and scientific innovation.

Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur

• Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, a renowned scholar and educator, has spent more than six decades contributing to Ayurvedic education and Sanskrit scholarship. He has authored 31 books and more than 300 academic works, including 319 publications in Sanskrit.

Vaidya Neelakandan Moos E.T.: Custodian of Kerala’s medical heritage

• Head of the Vaidyaratnam group, Vaidya Neelakandan Moos E.T., represents the eighth generation of a family with a 200-year-old Ayurvedic heritage. He has contributed to taking Kerala’s classical Ayurvedic practices to national and global audiences. His initiatives include community health programs such as Marmayanam and Vajra, and a practical handbook on Panchakarma.

Vaidya Bhavana Prashar:

• A scientist at CSIR-IGIB, Vaidya Bhavana Prashar has been honored for her pioneering work in the field of Ayurgenomics. Her research integrates traditional Ayurvedic concepts such as Prakriti and Tridosha with modern genomic science, enabling progress in predictive and personalized healthcare.
• Her AI and ML-based Prakriti analysis protocols have been integrated into national programs such as the National Prakriti Testing Programme, helping to expand the scope of Ayurveda in public health.

Ramachandra Guha honored with Mahatma Gandhi Seva 2025 Award

• The Karnataka state government announced on October 1, 2025, that renowned historian and writer Ramachandra Guha has been selected for the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award-Karnataka’ for 2025.
• Established by the Department of Information and Public Relations, this award is presented annually to individuals and institutions who have made significant contributions in promoting the life values of Mahatma Gandhi in society.
• It stated that Guha has gained international acclaim for his extensive research and writings on contemporary Indian history, political movements, environmental struggles, and cricket.
• His major works include: ‘India After Gandhi’, ‘A Corner of a Foreign Field’, ‘Gandhi Before India’, ‘Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World’, and ‘The Unquiet Woods’.
• His two-volume biography of Gandhi has been translated into several languages, including Kannada.