In the Indian context, informal workers have undergone a harrowing experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among several issues confronting this segment of the workforce, includes social security gaps. A large chunk of the working population is still left out of the realms of social protection.

In recent years, although the Government of India has made attempts to include the remaining sections of the workforce within the social protection ambit, but perhaps more efforts are required. This paper looks at the evolution of social security in India and under pins the need for developing an inclusive social protection based on a rights-based framework.