Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.4

e-Shram Portal (Unorganised Workers Database)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms · Topic 20.4

The e-Shram Portal is the National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), launched on 26 August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to register informal workers and link them to social security. A worker aged 16 to 59 who is not a member of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation or the Employees' State Insurance Corporation and does not pay income tax can register free with an Aadhaar number and mobile number, and receives a 12-digit Universal Account Number. As reported by the Government in August 2026 on the fifth anniversary, more than 31.89 crore workers had registered, and about 54 per cent were women.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms

At a Glance

Launched 26 August 2021
Ministry Ministry of Labour and Employment
Eligibility Age 16 to 59, not in EPFO or ESIC, not an income tax payer
Identity 12-digit Universal Account Number
Registrations More than 31.89 crore (August 2026, as reported)
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms

Where Does It Fit?

e-Shram is the main labour-side platform in this macro. It uses Aadhaar and DigiLocker-type verification, and it sets a base for delivery of social security that the Code on Social Security, 2020 envisages for gig and platform workers. Previous topic: DigiLocker. Next topic: PM-KISAN Portal.

Who Can Register and What Do They Get?

Aspect	Detail
Eligibility	Unorganised worker aged 16 to 59 years, who is not a member of EPFO or ESIC, and who is not an income tax payer
Documents	Aadhaar number, a mobile number preferably linked to Aadhaar, and a bank account
Registration cost	Free, through self-registration or at Common Service Centres and state facilitation centres
UAN	A 12-digit Universal Account Number and an e-Shram card are issued
Insurance	Accidental insurance of Rs 2 lakh for death or permanent total disability and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the premium paid by the Government for the first year, as stated at launch
Other benefits	Linking with schemes such as the pension scheme PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan and, since 2024, a one-stop solution that brings several schemes into one place

What Is the Policy Background?

Origin: the Supreme Court in 2020 and 2021 asked the Government to build a database of migrant and unorganised workers after the Covid lockdown exposed gaps in data
Statute: the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 provides for welfare schemes. The Code on Social Security, 2020 widens the definition to include gig and platform workers and sets up a social security fund
Labour codes: the four labour codes passed in 2019 and 2020 were brought into force in November 2025, as reported, and this strengthens the base for social security of such workers
Occupations: workers are classified in hundreds of occupations in about 30 broad sectors, such as construction, agriculture, domestic work and street vending
Gig and platform workers: about 11.5 lakh gig and platform workers had registered, as reported in August 2026
One-stop solution: a facility started in October 2024 to let workers see benefits of various schemes and apply through the portal
Seeding: data can be linked with Aadhaar and, in some states, with state databases to avoid duplication
Anniversary data: the figure of 31.89 crore is from an official factsheet as reported by news outlets, and numbers rise every week

What Else Should You Remember?

Full form and alias: e-Shram portal is written as eShram or e-Shram, and the database is called the National Database of Unorganised Workers or NDUW
Latest status: the portal is active and completed five years on 26 August 2026, with more than 31.89 crore registrations as reported
Size of informal sector: the Periodic Labour Force Survey shows that most Indian workers have no written contract or social security, which is why the database matters
Link to DigiLocker: the e-Shram card can be used in similar ways to other documents, as in DigiLocker
Link to labour codes: the portal also supports the national database needed under the Code on Social Security
Link to rural jobs: many registrants are agricultural labourers and rural workers who also depend on the rural job guarantee, as in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Readers should check the latest legal status of that programme
Criticism of coverage: registration does not by itself give a pension or health cover, so benefits depend on schemes that are linked
Criticism of data: data is based on self-declaration, so duplication and false entries are possible, and some eligible workers such as those with weak digital access are left out
Women: women make up about 54 per cent of the registrants, as reported, which reflects the large share of women in informal work, especially in agriculture
Way forward: real-time portability of benefits across states, assured health cover and simple options for registration in local languages

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch and ministry: 26 August 2021, Ministry of Labour and Employment
Eligibility: age 16 to 59, not in EPFO or ESIC, not an income tax payer
UAN: 12 digits, linked to Aadhaar
Insurance: PMSBY cover of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh
Common errors: confusing the e-Shram UAN with the EPFO UAN, or giving age range as 18 to 60

As an analytical point, e-Shram gives the state a first national picture of the informal workforce. Its value depends on turning registration into portable benefits, such as health cover and pensions, and on keeping data accurate and private.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Welfare Social security for informal workers
Facts Eligibility and benefits
Labour reform Gig workers and codes

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the PM-KISAN Portal for farmer income support. Next topic: PM-KISAN Portal.

Key People and Terms

NDUW National Database of Unorganised Workers
UAN Universal Account Number
PMSBY Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
Gig worker Person doing short-term platform work
Informal sector Work without formal contract or social security
CSC Common Service Centre

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 26 August 2021.
Age 16 to 59, not in EPFO or ESIC.
12-digit UAN.
PMSBY cover Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh.
More than 31.89 crore registered (Aug 2026).

Do Not Confuse With

e-Shram UAN and EPFO UAN Unorganised worker ID versus provident fund account number
e-Shram and MGNREGA job card National database versus rural job entitlement
Unorganised and gig workers Wider informal workers versus platform-based workers

Memory Hook

Sixteen to fifty-nine, no EPF, no tax: register once and be counted.

Mains Angle

Questions ask how a database can improve social security for informal workers. These points give a balanced frame.

Benefits Data, targeting, portability
Limits Self-declaration, benefits gap, exclusion
Way forward Portable health cover, verified data, outreach

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the significance of the e-Shram portal for social security of unorganised workers and the challenges in turning registration into benefits.”

How to Answer

Context Large informal workforce.
Portal NDUW and UAN.
Benefits Insurance and scheme links.
Challenges Data and benefits gap.
Way Portability and outreach.

GS Relevance

Prelims: launch, ministry, eligibility, UAN, benefits. GS Paper 2: welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, social security. GS Paper 3: employment, informal sector, labour reforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the e-Shram portal?

The e-Shram portal is the National Database of Unorganised Workers, launched on 26 August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Informal workers register free with an Aadhaar number and receive a 12-digit Universal Account Number, which links them to accident insurance and other social security schemes.

Who can register on e-Shram?

An unorganised worker aged 16 to 59 years can register if the person is not a member of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation or the Employees' State Insurance Corporation and is not an income tax payer. Registration needs an Aadhaar number, a mobile number and a bank account, and it is free.

Which ministry runs the e-Shram portal?

The Ministry of Labour and Employment runs the e-Shram portal. It is the national database under the framework of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, and it also supports the Code on Social Security, 2020, which covers gig and platform workers. Registration is also offered through Common Service Centres.

What benefits does an e-Shram card give?

A registered worker gets accident insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with Rs 2 lakh for death or permanent total disability and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability, with the first year premium paid by the Government. The card also helps link the worker to pension and other schemes.

What is the latest status of the e-Shram portal?

The portal completed five years on 26 August 2026, and the Government reported more than 31.89 crore registrations, with about 54 per cent women and about 11.5 lakh gig and platform workers. Registration numbers keep rising, so the latest figure should be checked in a recent Ministry of Labour and Employment release.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 e-Shram was launched in August 2021.

True

The launch was on 26 August 2021.

2 An EPFO member can register on e-Shram.

False

Members of EPFO or ESIC are not eligible.

3 The e-Shram UAN has 12 digits.