e-SHRAM Portal – Empowering India’s Unorganised Workforce

As of 22nd July 2025, over 30.95 crore unorganised workers have registered on the e-SHRAM portal, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey toward inclusive labour welfare. With support for 22 Indian languages via MEITY’s Bhashini project, the portal has become more accessible and user-friendly for workers across the country.

🏛️ What is the e-SHRAM Portal?

• Launched by: Ministry of Labour & Employment

• Launch Date: 26 August 2021

• Objective: Create the National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) to ensure targeted delivery of social security and welfare schemes

The portal covers diverse unorganised workers including:

• Migrant workers

• Construction workers

• Street vendors

• Domestic workers

• Gig & platform workers

• Agricultural & daily wage labourers

🎯 Key Objectives

1. Build a centralised digital database for unorganised workers

2. Ensure social security delivery (pensions, insurance, DBTs)

3. Facilitate job matching, skill development, and digital skilling

4. Integrate informal sector workers into the formal labour ecosystem

5. Support financial inclusion via Aadhaar-linked DBTs

👥 Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16–59 years

• Must be employed in the unorganised sector

• Must not be a member of EPFO or ESIC

• Possess: Aadhaar card, Aadhaar-linked mobile number, Bank account

🛠️ Key Features

• Universal Account Number (UAN): Portable, Aadhaar-linked ID for accessing benefits nationwide

• Single Registration Process: Minimal documentation; self-registration via mobile or CSCs

• Multilingual Support: 22 languages via Bhashini

• Grievance Redressal: Helpline and portal-based complaint resolution

• Family Data Capture: Ensures access to education, health, and women-centric schemes

• Integration with Skill & Employment Schemes: Apprenticeships, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, digital literacy initiatives

• BOCW Data Sharing: Construction workers’ data shared with state boards

• Data Sharing Portal (DSP): Enables secure access for States/UTs for targeted welfare delivery

🔍 Significance

• First digital platform to bring unorganised workers into policy focus

• Facilitates direct benefit transfers and emergency response (e.g., COVID-19)

• Lays groundwork for universal social security under Code on Social Security, 2020

• Enhances federal coordination in labour welfare

🚧 Challenges Ahead

• Low digital literacy among workers → enrolment gaps

• Data updation and inter-state portability still limited

• Weak convergence with other welfare databases (e.g., PM-KISAN, Ration Card)

• Sustainability of scheme delivery as workers migrate

• Full portability of benefits across states not yet operational

📌 Way Forward

• Strengthen Centre–State–UT coordination for labour welfare

• Real-time integration with other welfare schemes

• Awareness campaigns in rural and tribal regions

• Use e-SHRAM data to design targeted gig worker regulations

• Link e-SHRAM with ESHRAM Cards for seamless access and portability

📝 UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. The e-SHRAM portal is a crucial step towards formalising India’s vast unorganised workforce. Discuss its features, significance, and challenges in achieving inclusive labour welfare. (250 words)

Pointers for Answer:

• Features: UAN, multilingual support, single registration, integration with skill/employment schemes

• Significance: Social security, financial inclusion, federal coordination, emergency response

• Challenges: Digital literacy, portability, data convergence, sustainability

• Way Forward: Centre-State coordination, awareness campaigns, policy convergence, leveraging data for targeted schemes