Azim Premji University has announced the publication of Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India. This Handbook highlights the extensive welfare system that India has established, aiming to support a substantial portion of its population through various initiatives focused on food security, healthcare, education, nutrition, employment, and social protection. The importance of such measures was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS), MGNREGA, and social security transfers proved essential in safeguarding vulnerable households.

Content and Contributions of the Handbook

Developed by the Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy (CSIE), the Handbook features contributions from 27 authors across 18 chapters, offering a rights-based perspective on India’s welfare policies and public systems. The significant role that state governments play in social sector spending is underscored, with nearly 90 per cent of such expenditures coming from states, while the Union government’s participation has dropped sharply from 23.6 per cent in 2008-09 to 8.5 per cent in 2024-25. Additionally, the combined governmental spending on welfare amounts to approximately 7 per cent of the GDP and constitutes 21 per cent of total public expenditure.

Despite the scale of these initiatives, public investment in critical sectors like education and health remains below desirable levels, with education receiving approximately 4 per cent of GDP and health funding falling under 2 per cent of GDP. These figures illustrate the ongoing challenges in meeting policy targets for welfare services.

The Handbook also highlights the progressive impact of rights-based interventions, which have substantially increased welfare access. For instance, the number of Anganwadi centres has risen from 6 lakh to 14 lakh, driven by directives from the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the National Food Security Act has expanded subsidised foodgrain access from 36.3 crore individuals to over 81 crore. Employment generation initiatives like MGNREGA have resulted in 200–300 crore person-days of work annually, with women comprising over 55 per cent of those employed.

Challenges in the Welfare Framework

While welfare coverage has improved, significant challenges remain in terms of gap management, funding, and implementation across various key programmes. Areas in need of enhancement include maternity benefits, nutrition initiatives, pension schemes, and healthcare provisions. These deficiencies underscore the necessity for ongoing reforms to ensure that existing programmes effectively support those in need.

Indu Prasad, President of Azim Premji University, emphasised that the Indian Constitution embodies a commitment to dignity, opportunity, and justice for every citizen. He indicated that the Handbook aims to foster informed public discussions and strengthen collective initiatives towards building a more equitable and inclusive country, which aligns with the vision of a Viksit Bharat that aims to leave no one behind.

Dipa Sinha from the Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy expressed the hope that this Handbook provides a detailed overview of India’s welfare landscape, particularly through its analysis of prominent rights-based interventions by the Union government. She noted its potential as a resource for various stakeholders, including academics, journalists, practitioners, and students, thereby aiding the transition from research to actionable insights.

Availability and Institutional Context

Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India aims to contribute to informed discussions about welfare policy, governance, and social justice, stressing the necessity of strengthening universal and accountable public services. The Handbook can be accessed online at azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/publications/2026/book/realising-rights.

Azim Premji University, located in Bengaluru, was established under the Azim Premji University Act 2010 by the Government of Karnataka. The University in Bhopal was founded according to the Madhya Pradesh Niji Vishwa Vidyalaya (Sthapana Avam Sanchalan) Dwitiya Sanshodhan Adhiniyam, 2022, and the Ranchi campus was created under the Azim Premji University Act, 2022, enacted by the Government of Jharkhand. The Azim Premji Foundation supports these universities as fully philanthropic entities aimed at fostering the realisation of a just, equitable, humane, and sustainable society.

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