Internal migration has become an integral part of India’s development trajectory, driven by regional disparities in employment opportunities, urbanization, and economic transformation. Millions of migrant workers contribute significantly to the country’s economy, yet many continue to face barriers in accessing social welfare benefits because these are often linked to their place of residence rather than their citizenship. The COVID-19 pandemic brought this issue into sharp focus, exposing the vulnerability of interstate migrant workers and highlighting the limitations of India’s residence-based welfare system.

Against this backdrop, the Government of India has introduced several initiatives, including the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC), e-Shram, and Ayushman Bharat, to improve the portability of welfare benefits across state boundaries. This paper examines these reforms within the broader framework of cooperative federalism and social citizenship. It argues that welfare portability should be understood not merely as a technological or administrative innovation but as an important step towards ensuring that citizens can access essential social protection regardless of where they live or work.

Drawing on existing academic literature, government reports, and policy documents, the paper critically analyses the opportunities and challenges associated with India’s evolving portability framework. While recent reforms have enhanced access to welfare for many migrant workers, their effectiveness continues to be shaped by variations in state capacity, digital inclusion, institutional coordination, and public awareness. The paper concludes that achieving truly portable social protection requires stronger intergovernmental cooperation, greater institutional integration, and a rights based approach that places citizens, rather than administrative boundaries, at the centre of welfare governance.