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Setting Up of Business, Industrial and Labour Laws · The Code on Social Security, 2020

Social Security Organisations and Boards under the Social Security Code

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Code on Social Security, 2020 sets up a National Social Security Board (Section 6) and a State Unorganised Workers' Board in each State. Both have fixed membership, a three-year term and advisory and monitoring functions for unorganised, gig and platform workers. Section 13 lets the Central Government give Social Security Organisations extra functions.

Understand Social Security Organisations and Boards

Social security for organised workers runs through bodies like the EPFO and ESIC. Unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers have no such employer link. The Code therefore creates Boards to plan and watch over schemes for them.

The National Social Security Board is constituted by the Central Government by notification (Section 6). Each State Government constitutes its own Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board, named after the State. The National Board covers unorganised, gig and platform workers. The State Board's functions speak of unorganised workers.

The Boards are mainly advisory and monitoring bodies. They recommend schemes, advise the Government, monitor schemes and review record keeping and spending. They do not run the schemes themselves. The Government can still supersede a Board under Section 11, but only after a show-cause opportunity.

Social Security Organisations are the bodies that administer social security. Section 13 lets the Central Government, by notification, assign them additional functions, including administering another Act or scheme relating to social security. The expenditure is borne by the Central Government.

Section 112 allows helplines and facilitation centres to help these workers register and enrol. Section 141 creates the Social Security Fund. Read these together, because questions often mix them.

Key rules to remember

National Board: constitution and term
Constituted by Central Government notification; term 3 years; meets at least thrice a year
Section 6(1), (5), (6). Meetings are at least three times a year.
National Board: composition
Chairperson (Union Labour Minister) + Vice-Chairperson (Secretary, Labour) + 40 nominated members + Director General Labour Welfare as Member-Secretary, ex officio
The 40: 7 unorganised workers, 7 employers, 7 civil society, 3 from Parliament (2 Lok Sabha, 1 Rajya Sabha), 10 Central Ministries, 5 State Governments, 1 Union territories. Check: 7+7+7+3+10+5+1 = 40.
State Board: composition
Chairperson (State Labour Minister, ex officio) + Vice-Chairperson (Principal Secretary or Secretary, Labour) + 1 Central Government member + 31 nominated members + Member-Secretary notified by State
The 31: 7 unorganised workers, 7 employers, 2 Legislative Assembly, 5 civil society, 10 State departments. Check: 7+7+2+5+10 = 31.
State Board: term and meetings
Term 3 years; meets at least once in a quarter
Section 6(13), (14). Do not mix with the National Board's three meetings a year.
Eligibility and representation
All members except the Chairperson: persons of eminence in labour welfare, management, finance, law and administration; adequate representation for SC, ST, minorities and women
Section 6(3), (4), (11), (12). The proviso on representation is in the sub-section on nomination.
National Board functions
Recommend schemes; advise Centre; monitor Central schemes; review State-level record keeping; review expenditure from fund and account; other functions
Section 6(7). Covers unorganised, gig and platform workers.
State Board functions
Recommend schemes; advise State; monitor State schemes; review district-level record keeping; review registration and card issue; review expenditure; other functions
Section 6(15). The State Board alone reviews registration and issue of cards.
Supersession
Grounds: unable to perform, persistent delay, or exceeded or abused powers. Show-cause first. Report laid before Parliament or State Legislature within 3 months of the notification
Section 11. Alternate arrangements apply until reconstitution.
Additional functions
Central Government notification assigns extra functions to a Social Security Organisation; expenditure borne by Central Government after its prior approval
Section 13.

How to solve Social Security Organisations and Boards questions

Use this method for any question on the Boards, Section 11 or Section 13.

  1. 1Identify the body: National Board, State Board, or Social Security Organisation.
  2. 2Name the section: Section 6 for constitution, composition, term and functions; Section 11 for supersession; Section 13 for additional functions.
  3. 3State who constitutes it and how: the Central or State Government, by notification.
  4. 4Give composition, term and meeting frequency, using the right numbers for that Board.
  5. 5List the functions in the Act's order. Mark the points that differ between the two Boards.
  6. 6For problem questions, apply the conditions: ground, show-cause, notification, report to the legislature.
  7. 7End with a clear conclusion that answers the exact question asked.

Quickest way: Compare-the-two-Boards grid

When to use it: Use it when you must recall numbers or differences under time pressure.

  1. Write two columns: National and State.
  2. Fill: constituted by Centre or State; Chair; Vice-Chair; nominated 40 or 31; meetings 3 a year or quarterly; term 3 years for both.
  3. Add the nominee split and tick that it adds up to 40 and 31.
  4. Note functions: National reviews State-level records; State reviews district-level records and card registration.
  5. Add one line on Section 11 and one on Section 13.

Common mistakes in Social Security Organisations and Boards

  • Mixing the meeting frequency of the two Boards.

    Both rules sound alike.

    Fix: National: at least thrice a year. State: at least once in a quarter.

  • Writing the wrong number of nominated members or categories.

    The lists are long and similar.

    Fix: Remember 40 for National and 31 for State, and add up your split to check.

  • Saying the National Board covers only unorganised workers.

    The Board's title mentions only unorganised workers.

    Fix: Its functions cover unorganised, gig and platform workers.

  • Treating supersession as immediate.

    Students ignore the proviso.

    Fix: State the grounds, the show-cause opportunity, alternate arrangements and the report within three months.

  • Saying the Board administers the schemes.

    The word 'monitor' is overlooked.

    Fix: The Boards recommend, advise, monitor and review. Administration of Central schemes is by the Government and its organisations.

  • Confusing Section 13 with Section 11.

    Both appear in the same part of the Code.

    Fix: Section 13 adds functions to Social Security Organisations. Section 11 supersedes Boards.

Worked examples

Example 1

Explain the composition and term of the National Social Security Board under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Show the solution
  1. Provision: Section 6 requires the Central Government, by notification, to constitute the Board for unorganised workers.
  2. Office-bearers: the Union Minister for Labour and Employment is Chairperson and the Secretary of that Ministry is Vice-Chairperson. The Director General Labour Welfare is Member-Secretary, ex officio.
  3. Nominated members: the Central Government nominates forty. These are 7 unorganised workers, 7 employers of the unorganised sector, 7 eminent civil society persons, 3 from Parliament (2 Lok Sabha, 1 Rajya Sabha), 10 from Central Ministries and Departments, 5 from State Governments and 1 for Union territories.
  4. Eligibility: all members except the Chairperson must be eminent in labour welfare, management, finance, law and administration. There must be adequate representation for SC, ST, minorities and women.
  5. Term and meetings: the term is three years and the Board meets at least thrice a year.

Answer: Under Section 6, the Board has a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, forty nominated members and a Member-Secretary, and holds office for three years.

Example 2

A State Unorganised Workers' Board has repeatedly delayed its functions. Can the State Government supersede it? State the procedure.

Show the solution
  1. Provision: Section 11 lets the State Government supersede a State Unorganised Workers' Board by notification.
  2. Ground: the Government must be of the opinion that the Board is unable to perform its functions, has persistently delayed them, or has exceeded or abused its powers. Persistent delay is a listed ground.
  3. Condition: before the notification, the Government must give the Board an opportunity to show cause and must consider its explanations and objections.
  4. Consequence: the Board is reconstituted in the prescribed manner. Until then, the Government makes alternate arrangements for administering the relevant provisions.
  5. Accountability: a full report of the action and the circumstances must be laid before the State Legislature at the earliest, and not later than three months from the notification.

Answer: Yes. Persistent delay is a ground under Section 11, but only after a show-cause opportunity. The Government must also lay a report before the State Legislature within three months.

Exam tips

  • Learn the National and State Boards side by side. Questions often ask you to compare them.
  • Write Section 6 for composition, term and functions, Section 11 for supersession and Section 13 for additional functions.
  • When listing composition, give the nominee split and the totals of 40 and 31.
  • For Section 13, mention the Central Government notification, the cost borne by the Centre and prior approval of expenditure.
  • Close answers with a one-line conclusion, as ICSI answer style expects.

Practice questions from The Code on Social Security, 2020

Social Security Organisations and Boards in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

Social Security Organisations and Boards: frequently asked questions

Who is the Chairperson of the National Social Security Board?

The Union Minister for Labour and Employment is the Chairperson. The Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment is the Vice-Chairperson. The Director General Labour Welfare is the Member-Secretary, ex officio.

How many members does each Board have?

The National Board has forty nominated members besides the office-bearers and Member-Secretary. The State Board has thirty-one nominated members and one member representing the Central Government in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

What are the additional functions under Section 13?

The Central Government may by notification assign a Social Security Organisation extra functions, including administering another Act or scheme relating to social security. The Centre bears the cost, and spending needs its prior approval.

Can a Board be superseded?

Yes, under Section 11, if it cannot perform, persistently delays, or exceeds or abuses its powers. The Government must first give a show-cause opportunity. It must lay a report before the legislature within three months.