Social security schemes for unorganised construction workers in India: a scoping review of coverage, awareness and implementation challenges

India’s unorganised construction workers face insecure employment, unsafe working conditions, and limited access to social security despite their significant economic contributions. This scoping review examines the coverage, awareness, and implementation challenges of social security schemes for unorganised construction workers in India. The review followed the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature published between 2012 and 2025 was identified through Google Scholar, Scopus, and selected government sources. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 24 studies were included and synthesised to examine social security coverage, access, implementation, and worker well-being. The findings indicate that limited awareness, inadequate registration, administrative barriers, weak institutional coordination, and ineffective benefit delivery restrict workers’ access to social protection. Migrant and women construction workers face additional vulnerabilities related to employment insecurity, mobility, and socioeconomic conditions. The review highlights the need for improved awareness, simplified registration procedures, stronger institutional monitoring, and effective delivery mechanisms. Further longitudinal research is required to assess the long-term effectiveness of social security schemes, benefit adequacy, gender-specific barriers, and recent policy reforms. Strengthening implementation is essential to ensuring meaningful social protection for India’s unorganised construction workers.