The e-Shram portal, launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is a pioneering initiative aimed at creating a national database of unorganised workers (NDUW). By registering, workers receive a Universal Account Number (UAN), enabling them to access welfare schemes, employment opportunities, and financial security.

As of March 2025, over 306.8 million workers have registered, with women accounting for 53.68% of total registrations. The initiative aligns with the government’s Digital India vision and aims to empower workers in informal sectors through social security benefits, employment access, and digital connectivity.

Key Features of e-Shram Portal

1. Comprehensive Database for Unorganised Workers, Covers sectors like agriculture, construction, domestic work, street vending, gig work, and more. Workers’ details are Aadhaar-linked, ensuring streamlined access to government benefits.
2. One-Stop-Solution for Social Security as Since October 2024, e-Shram has integrated 13 key welfare schemes including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) – Housing support, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) – Accidental insurance, Ayushman Bharat – PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) – Free healthcare, MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) – Guaranteed rural employment, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandan (PMSYM) – Pension scheme for informal workers and others
3. Multilingual Functionality for Accessibility as In January 2025, the platform was upgraded to support 22 Scheduled Languages, powered by MEITY’s Bhashini project, making it accessible across linguistic barriers.
4. Mobile App for Real-Time Access. Launched in February 2025, the app allows workers to Track benefits under various schemes, Apply for financial aid and social security programs, Receive job alerts and skill development updates.
5. Integration with Employment and Skilling Platforms. e-Shram is linked with the National Career Service (NCS) and Skill India Digital Portal, allowing workers to Find job opportunities, Register for skill training programs, Access vocational courses to improve employability.
6. Digital & Physical outreach for Maximum Coverage as the government has implemented SMS campaigns and social media promotions. Partnerships with Common Service Centres (CSCs) and State Seva Kendras (SSKs) for registration assistance in rural areas.
7. UMANG App Integration for Ease of Use such as e-Shram is integrated with Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG), enabling workers to update their information easily via smartphones.

Significance of e-Shram in India’s Socio-Economic Landscape

1. It would bridge the Social Security Gap as over 80% of India’s workforce belongs to the informal sector, often without access to insurance, pension, and financial aid. e-Shram ensures structured welfare benefits, leading to greater financial security for millions.
2. Promoting Financial Inclusion as Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) allow fast, transparent payments of welfare funds. Workers gain access to banking services, loans, and government subsidies.
3. Boosting Women’s Workforce participation as with 53.68% of registered users being women, e-Shram promotes. Economic independence for female workers. They have Easier access to healthcare, maternity benefits, and pensions.
4. Enhancing Employment and Skill Development as it provides Job matching services for informal workers. Opportunities for vocational training.
5. Strengthening Disaster & Pandemic Preparedness is also a major importance. During crises like COVID-19, identifying unorganised workers for relief efforts was challenging. e-Shram enables faster government response in emergencies by providing a ready database for financial aid and job support.

Challenges in Implementing e-Shram

1. Digital Divide & Low Awareness such as low mobile and internet penetration in many areas of the country till today.
2. Data Accuracy & Duplication Issues such as Maintaining accurate, up-to-date worker records is a challenge.
3. Integration with State Government Schemes because some states run separate welfare programs that need to be synchronized with e-Shram.A standardized framework is needed for seamless coordination between Centre and State governments.
4. Limited Formalisation of Informal Workers