Labour Laws and Practice · Social Security Legislations

Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures under the Code on Social Security, 2020

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Social Security Organisations are the bodies the Code on Social Security, 2020 sets up to run social security, such as the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers. Section 9 says they meet and transact business as the Central Government prescribes, authenticate orders through named officers, and are not invalidated by vacancies or defects in constitution.

Understand Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures

The Code on Social Security, 2020 does not leave administration to the government alone. It creates bodies that advise, monitor and run schemes. Section 9 calls them Social Security Organisations and lays down common rules for how they work.

Two boards deal with unorganised workers. Under Section 6, the Central Government constitutes the National Social Security Board (NSSB). Every State Government constitutes a State Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board. Each board has a three-year term. The NSSB meets at least thrice a year. The State Board meets at least once in a quarter.

Section 9 is the procedure section. It has four parts. First, meetings: intervals, procedure and quorum are as prescribed by the Central Government. Second, authentication: orders and decisions are authenticated by a named head of the organisation, such as the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, the Director General Labour Welfare, or the State Principal Secretary or Secretary (Labour), or another officer notified by the appropriate Government. Other instruments are authenticated by the signature of an officer authorised by order of the organisation. Third, validity: no act or proceeding can be questioned merely because of a vacancy or a defect in the constitution of the organisation or its Committee. Fourth, members get fees and allowances as prescribed by the Central Government.

The validity rule matters in practice. A board can keep working even if some seats are empty. But the protection is limited. It covers vacancy or defect in constitution, not an act that is otherwise illegal.

Section 11 completes the picture. If the government thinks a board or committee cannot perform its functions, has persistently delayed, or has exceeded or abused its powers, it may supersede it by notification and reconstitute it. It must first give an opportunity to show cause and consider the reply. A report must be laid before Parliament or the State Legislature within three months of the notification.

Key rules to remember

Section 9(1): meetings: Intervals + procedure + quorum = as prescribed by the Central Government; Applies to every Social Security Organisation and its Committees.
Section 9(2): authentication: Orders and decisions = authenticated by the head officer or other notified officer; other instruments = signature of officer authorised by order; Heads named include the CPF Commissioner, DG Labour Welfare, State Principal Secretary or Secretary (Labour).
Section 9(3): validity: Vacancy or defect in constitution alone ≠ ground to question any act or proceeding; The word 'merely' limits the protection.
Section 9(4): fee: Fee and allowances of members = as prescribed by the Central Government; Do not say the State sets them under Section 9.
NSSB (Section 6): Chair: Union Labour Minister; Vice-Chair: Secretary, Labour Ministry; 40 nominated members; Member-Secretary: DG Labour Welfare; term 3 years; meets at least 3 times a year; The 40 nominees: 7 unorganised workers, 7 employers, 7 civil society, 3 from Parliament (2 Lok Sabha, 1 Rajya Sabha), 10 Central Ministries, 5 States, 1 Union territories.
State Board (Section 6): Chair: State Labour Minister; Vice-Chair: Principal Secretary or Secretary (Labour); 1 Central member; 31 nominated members; Member-Secretary as notified; term 3 years; meets at least once a quarter; The 31 nominees: 7 workers, 7 employers, 2 Legislative Assembly, 5 civil society, 10 State departments.
Supersession (Section 11): Opinion of inability, persistent delay or excess or abuse of power → show-cause opportunity → notification → reconstitution → report to the legislature within 3 months; Show cause comes before the notification.

How to solve Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures questions

Use this order for any question on the organisations and their procedure. It follows the provision, facts, conclusion pattern.

1Identify the body in the facts: NSSB, State Board, or another Social Security Organisation.
2Identify the issue: composition, meetings, authentication, validity of an act, fees, functions or supersession.
3State the provision in plain words with its section number (Section 6, 9 or 11).
4Apply it to the facts. Check numbers, who authenticates, and whether the defect is only a vacancy or constitution defect.
5Note what is left to rules: quorum, meeting intervals and fees are prescribed by the Central Government.
6Conclude clearly: valid or invalid, who acts, what is the next step.
7Add one practical point, such as minutes, quorum record or signed authentication.

Quickest way: Four-letter Section 9 check: M-A-V-F

When to use it: Use for short-note or case questions on Section 9 when time is tight.

M for Meetings: intervals, procedure and quorum are prescribed.
A for Authentication: head officer for orders; authorised officer's signature for other instruments.
V for Validity: vacancy or defect in constitution alone cannot invalidate an act.
F for Fees: members' fee and allowances are prescribed by the Central Government.
Then link Section 6 for boards and Section 11 for supersession if the facts mention them.

Common mistakes in Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures

Saying a decision is void because board seats were vacant.
Students assume quorum and full membership are the same thing.
Fix: Quote Section 9(3): vacancy or defect in constitution alone is no ground. Quorum is a separate matter, set by the prescribed procedure.
Mixing up the meeting frequency of the NSSB and the State Board.
Both look similar and both have a three-year term.
Fix: NSSB: at least thrice a year. State Board: at least once in a quarter.
Giving wrong member counts for the boards.
The lists are long and have sub-categories.
Fix: Learn 40 nominated plus Chair, Vice-Chair and Member-Secretary for NSSB. Learn 31 nominated plus Chair, Vice-Chair, one Central member and Member-Secretary for the State Board.
Treating all instruments as needing the head officer's signature.
Section 9(2) has two limbs and students merge them.
Fix: Orders and decisions: head or notified officer. Other instruments: officer authorised by order of the organisation.
Skipping the show-cause step in supersession.
Students remember the grounds but not the proviso.
Fix: Always state: opportunity to show cause, consideration of the reply, then notification, then a report to the legislature within three months.
Saying the State fixes members' fees under Section 9.
Students assume State Boards follow State rules for everything.
Fix: Section 9(4) says the fee and allowances are as prescribed by the Central Government. Mention State prescription only for Section 6 matters like State Board procedure.

Worked examples

Example 1

A State Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board passed a resolution on a scheme proposal while three nominated seats were vacant. A worker's union argues the resolution is invalid. Advise.

Show the solution

Provision: Section 9(3) says no act or proceeding of a Social Security Organisation or Committee can be questioned merely on the ground of a vacancy or a defect in its constitution.
Facts: the only objection is that three seats were vacant. No other defect, such as lack of quorum or non-authorisation, is alleged.
Application: vacancy alone is protected by Section 9(3).
Caveat: the board must still have followed the prescribed procedure, including quorum, for the meeting.
Practical point: record attendance and quorum in the minutes.

Answer: The resolution cannot be challenged merely because three seats were vacant. It would be open to challenge only on other grounds, such as failure to meet the prescribed quorum or procedure.

Example 2

Explain the composition, term and meeting requirement of the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers.

Show the solution

Constitution: the Central Government constitutes it by notification under Section 6.
Chair and officers: Union Minister for Labour and Employment is Chairperson, Secretary of the Ministry is Vice-Chairperson, and the Director General Labour Welfare is Member-Secretary ex officio.
Nominated members: forty, being 7 unorganised workers, 7 employers, 7 eminent persons from civil society, 3 from Parliament (2 Lok Sabha, 1 Rajya Sabha), 10 Central Ministries and Departments, 5 State Governments and 1 Union territories.
Qualification: all members except the Chairperson are persons of eminence in labour welfare, management, finance, law and administration. Adequate representation goes to SC, ST, minorities and women.
Term: three years. Meetings: at least thrice a year, with procedure as prescribed by the Central Government.

Answer: The NSSB has a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, forty nominated members and a Member-Secretary. It serves a three-year term and meets at least three times a year under the prescribed procedure.

Exam tips

Learn the NSSB and State Board numbers as a table in your head: 40 and 31, plus the named office-bearers.
In case questions, always cite Section 9(3) when the facts mention vacancy, and then check for quorum.
For supersession answers, write the steps in order: opinion, show cause, notification, reconstitution, report within three months.
Use section numbers only where certain: 6, 9 and 11 are safe for this topic.
Add one drafting or compliance point, such as authenticated orders and minutes.

Practice questions from Social Security Legislations

Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures in other exams

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

CS ExecutiveIntroduction and Definitions under Social Security Code

Social Security Organisations and Their Procedures: frequently asked questions

What does Section 9 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 deal with?

It covers how a Social Security Organisation or its Committee transacts business. It deals with meetings and quorum, authentication of orders, protection against vacancy or defect in constitution, and members' fees.

Can a Board's decision be challenged because of a vacancy?

Not merely on that ground. Section 9(3) protects acts and proceedings from being questioned only because of a vacancy or defect in constitution. Other defects can still be raised.

How often do the NSSB and State Board meet?

The National Social Security Board meets at least thrice a year. A State Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board meets at least once in a quarter.

What functions does the NSSB perform?

It recommends schemes for unorganised, gig and platform workers, advises the Central Government, monitors Central schemes, reviews State-level record keeping and expenditure from the fund and account, and does other assigned work.