- Why in news
- On 3 August 2026, the Labour Ministry told the Lok Sabha that over 31.82 crore unorganised workers are registered on the eShram portal, with 15 schemes now linked to it.
- What it is
- eShram is a portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment that builds the National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). Workers register by self-declaration and get a Universal Account Number (UAN). It is meant to help the government deliver social security to workers outside the formal sector, including gig, platform and migrant workers.
- Launch
- The portal was launched on 26 August 2021 to build the National Database of Unorganised Workers, covering gig, platform and migrant workers.
- Identity and registration basis
- Workers get a Universal Account Number (UAN) on self-declaration.
- One-Stop-Solution
- Launched on 21 October 2024 following the Budget 2024-25 announcement, it integrates social security schemes on one portal and lets workers see benefits they have availed.
- Authentication
- Registration needs Aadhaar-based eKYC, and key details such as name, gender, date of birth, address and photo are fetched from UIDAI.
- Assisted registration
- Besides web and mobile self-registration, workers can register through Common Service Centres, State Sewa Kendras and UMANG.
- Linked services
- eShram links with National Career Service for jobs, Skill India Digital Hub for skills and PM-SYM for pension.
Don’t confuse with eShram UAN vs EPFO UAN: eShram's Universal Account Number is for unorganised workers on self-declaration. EPFO's UAN is for formal-sector provident fund members.
Don’t confuse with eShram vs PM-SYM: eShram is a database and access portal. PM-SYM is a separate pension scheme linked to it.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- A verified national database lets the government target social security to unorganised and gig workers.
- One portal for many schemes cuts duplication and helps workers see benefits received.
Problems
- Self-declaration of occupation and income can allow errors or ineligible entries.
- Registration does not by itself ensure benefits; schemes have their own eligibility and low awareness limits uptake.
Way forward
- Keep data updated and verified, and link it to state databases.
- Expand assisted registration and awareness in backward districts to move from registration to actual benefits.
Put in your answer
Scale of registration: Over 31.82 crore unorganised workers have registered on eShram.
Scheme convergence: Fifteen central schemes are mapped with eShram, including PM-JAY, PMAY-G and PM-KISAN.
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q11Merits and demerits of four Labour Codes; progress of labour reforms.
- 2020Mains GS4 · Q12Case study on migrant workers' plight during the pandemic lockdown.
- 2021Mains GS1 · Q10Role of gig economy in empowering women in India.
- 2021Prelims Q2Statements on casual workers' EPF coverage, wages and wage-payment rules.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The eShram portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers.
- 2.Registration on eShram is completed without Aadhaar authentication, and details are entered manually by the worker.
- 3.Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan is linked to eShram for pension access.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The eShram portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers.
True. The Labour Ministry launched it on 26 August 2021 to create the NDUW.
2.Workers registering on eShram receive a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis.
True. eShram issues a UAN on self-declaration.
3.Registration on eShram is completed without Aadhaar authentication, and details are entered manually by the worker.
False. Registration happens only after Aadhaar-based eKYC, and key fields are fetched directly from UIDAI.
4.The eShram One-Stop-Solution was launched in October 2024 in line with the Union Budget 2024-25 announcement.
True. It was launched on 21 October 2024 following the Budget 2024-25 announcement.
5.Workers can register on eShram only through the web portal and not through Common Service Centres.
False. Assisted registration is also available via CSCs, State Sewa Kendras and the UMANG platform.
6.PM-KISAN and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana are among the schemes integrated or mapped with eShram.
True. Both are among the 15 schemes mapped with eShram.
7.The pension scheme Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan is linked to eShram for pension access.
True. PM-SYM is linked to eShram for pension.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.