To assess the strengths, shortcomings, and future direction of the country's welfare architecture, Azim Premji University has released Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India. Developed by the Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy, the publication brings together 27 authors across 18 chapters and presents a rights-based analysis of India's welfare policies and public systems.
The Handbook states that state governments account for nearly 90 per cent of India's social sector expenditure, while the Union Government's share has declined from 23.6 per cent in 2008-09 to 8.5 per cent in 2024-25. It further notes that governments collectively spend around seven per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product and 21 per cent of total public expenditure on welfare sectors and schemes covered in the publication.
According to the Handbook, public expenditure on education remains at approximately four per cent of Gross Domestic Product, while spending on healthcare continues to remain below two per cent, both falling short of established policy targets.
The publication highlights that rights-based interventions have significantly expanded welfare coverage across the country. The number of Anganwadi centres increased from six lakh to fourteen lakh following orders issued by the Supreme Court. The National Food Security Act expanded subsidised food grain coverage from 36.3 crore people to more than 81 crore beneficiaries. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has generated between 200 crore and 300 crore person-days of employment annually, with women accounting for more than 55 per cent of the total employment created.
The Handbook also observes that the rapid expansion of cash transfer programmes is reshaping welfare delivery across India. At the same time, increasing digitisation is creating new challenges related to exclusion, accessibility, and accountability. It further identifies continuing gaps in the coverage, funding, and implementation of key welfare programmes, including maternity benefits, nutrition schemes, pension programmes, and healthcare services.
Indu Prasad, President of Azim Premji University, said that the Constitution of India embodies a commitment to dignity, opportunity, and justice for every citizen. She expressed hope that the Handbook would contribute to informed public dialogue and strengthen collective efforts to build a more equitable and inclusive India while advancing the vision of a developed nation that leaves no one behind.
Dipa Sinha of the Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy at Azim Premji University said the Handbook provides a comprehensive view of India's welfare landscape through an analysis of major rights-based interventions undertaken by the Union Government. She added that the publication is expected to serve as a valuable resource for academics, journalists, practitioners, and students while helping translate research into practical action.
By compiling evidence from multiple sectors, Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India contributes to informed discussions on welfare policy, governance, and social justice. The publication also underscores the importance of strengthening universal, transparent, and accountable public services to ensure effective welfare delivery across the country.
Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, was established under the Azim Premji University Act, 2010, enacted by the Government of Karnataka. Azim Premji University, Bhopal, was established under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Private University Establishment and Operation Second Amendment Act, 2022. Azim Premji University in Ranchi was established under the Azim Premji University Act, 2022, enacted by the Government of Jharkhand.
The Azim Premji Foundation, the sponsoring body of all three universities, has established these institutions as fully philanthropic entities with the objective of contributing to the creation of a just, equitable, humane, and sustainable society. The release of the Handbook reinforces the University's commitment to advancing evidence-based discussions on welfare, governance, and the protection of social and economic rights in India.
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