Context
- The e-Shram Portal completed 5 years of operation on 26 August 2026. Launched in August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the portal established India’s first National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW).
- Over the past five years, it has evolved into a “One-Stop Solution” integrating social security schemes, employment avenues, and skilling programs for over 31.89 crore registered workers.
Key Highlights & Achievements of e-Shram (2021–2026)
- Registration Scale: Over 31.89 crore unorganised workers registered as of August 2026.
- Gender Demographics: Women constitute the majority of registrants at 54.28%, reflecting high participation among domestic, agricultural, and apparel workers.
- Age Profile: 55.21% of registered workers fall within the prime working age group of 18–40 years.
- Top Contributing States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra lead in total registrations.
- Gig & Platform Worker Integration: Serves as a primary registry for non-traditional workers, recording ~11.5 lakh platform worker registrations to facilitate targeted welfare coverage.
- Multilingual Accessibility: Integrated with the AI-powered Bhashini platform, supporting services across 22 official languages.
About e-Shram Portal
- e-Shram Portal: A national digital platform for the registration and delivery of social security and welfare services to India’s unorganised workers.
- Launched: 26 August 2021
- Key Objectives
- Scheme Convergence: Improve delivery of social security benefits.
- Data Sharing: Enable secure worker-data sharing through APIs.
- Portability: Ensure nationwide portability of welfare benefits.
- Crisis Response: Support planning and response during emergencies and crises.
- Ministry: Ministry of Labour & Employment
- Developed by: National Informatics Centre (NIC)
- It created the country’s first Aadhaar-authenticated National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW).
- Every registered worker receives a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN).
Registration Parameters & Eligibility
| Criterion | Details |
| Target Population | Home-based, self-employed, wage workers in the unorganised sector, or non-ESIC/EPFO/Government employees. |
| Age Eligibility | 16 years and above (No upper age ceiling for registration). |
| Exclusion Criteria | Must not be an income-tax payer; must not be covered under EPFO or ESIC. |
| Identification & Cost | Uses a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) authenticated via identity verification. Registration is 100% free. |
| Important Current To Concept (CTC) from this article for UPSC- Bhashini platform Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Scheme |