Why in news?
In February 2026, the Government of India announced that the e-SHRAM portal has crossed a major milestone with over 31.48 crore unorganized workers registered. This national database aims to provide social security benefits and better policy planning for workers in the informal sector
About e-SHRAM Card
The e-SHRAM Card is a government initiative by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to create a national database of unorganized workers in India, giving them access to social security benefits such as insurance, pensions, and welfare schemes. It is free to register, Aadhaar-linked, and covers workers like street vendors, domestic workers, construction laborers, gig/platform workers, and agricultural workers.
Key points
- Launched by: Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India
- Purpose: To build a centralized Aadhaar-authenticated database of unorganized workers (National Database of Unorganized Workers – NDUW).
- Target Group: Migrant workers, construction workers, gig/platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, agricultural workers, and other informal sector workers.
Key Benefits
- Accidental Insurance: ₹2 lakh for death or permanent disability, ₹1 lakh for partial disability under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
- Direct Access to Welfare Schemes: Workers can easily avail benefits of government programs like pensions, maternity benefits, and skill development schemes.
- Portability: Migrant workers can access benefits across states.
- Financial Inclusion: Helps workers open bank accounts and receive direct benefit transfers.
Registration Process
- Eligibility: Any unorganized worker aged 16–59 years.
- Documents Required:
- Aadhaar number
- Mobile number linked with Aadhaar
- Bank account details
- How to Register:
- Online via e-SHRAM portal or UMANG app
- Offline at Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India
- Cost: Free of charge.
Challenges & Risks
- Awareness Gap: Many workers are unaware of the scheme or face digital literacy barriers.
- Aadhaar Dependency: Workers without Aadhaar or mobile-linked Aadhaar face difficulties.
- Implementation Issues: Ensuring benefits reach workers directly without middlemen remains a challenge.
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