India's Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), has strengthened governance, management, and actuarial practice through a series of training programmes held in New Delhi from 16 to 19 June 2026.
The capacity-building initiative brought together senior ESIC officials, medical administrators, finance and actuarial professionals and institutional leaders to explore international good practices and strengthen evidence-based decision-making for one of India's largest social insurance institutions.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to support India's ongoing social protection reforms and strengthen institutional capabilities in governance, service delivery, financial sustainability and evidence-based management.
On 16 June 2026, 17 senior ESIC officials participated in an Executive Programme on Governance and Management for ESIC, held at the organization's New Delhi headquarters.
The one-day programme focused on strengthening institutional governance, enhancing service delivery, improving operational effectiveness and leveraging digital transformation to better serve insured persons and employers.
Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), highlighted the value of the programme, stating: "This customized programme thoughtfully designed by the ILO and ITCILO for ESIC, was highly enriching and provided valuable perspectives on the complexities of managing a large social security institution. The discussions on governance, actuarial foresight, digital innovation and citizen-centric service delivery will significantly contribute to ESIC's on-going efforts to enhance sustainability, resilience, and service excellence."
Reaffirming the ILO's commitment to supporting social protection reforms in India, Oktavianto Pasaribu, Deputy Director and Senior Advisor for Resource Mobilization in Asia and the Pacific, remarked: "The ILO remains committed to deepening its partnership with ESIC in advancing Decent Work in India. We stand ready to work together on institutional strengthening, digital service delivery, citizen-centric approaches, gender-responsive social protection, evidence-based management and the progressive extension of social security coverage."
Following the executive programme, 34 ESIC officials representing HQ and field offices, participated in a three-day residential training entitled "Governance and Actuarial Practice in Social Security Schemes in India: Strengthening Institutional Capacity for ESIC", held from 17-19 June 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The programme highlighted the critical role of actuarial evidence in supporting sustainable social protection systems, particularly in the context of demographic change, evolving labour markets, and increasing expectations for quality service delivery.
Participants engaged in practical exercises, case studies, policy discussions, and peer learning sessions designed to bridge technical actuarial knowledge with strategic decision-making.
The programme was organized under the ILO-supported project "Promoting and Building Social Protection in South Asia (SPSA)", funded by the Government of Japan, which seeks to strengthen sustainable, inclusive, and gender-responsive social protection systems in India and Sri Lanka.
