e-Shram Card 2026: Registration, Benefits, Download & Scheme Guide

India has over 50 crore workers in the unorganised sector — construction labourers, farm workers, domestic helpers, street vendors, gig delivery riders and hundreds of other occupations. For most of their working lives, these workers existed entirely outside the social security net.

The e-Shram Card changes that. Launched in August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, it is a free, lifelong digital identity for every unorganised worker in India. It gives you a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN), automatic accident insurance and a single gateway to 13 integrated central government welfare schemes, with more being added as state schemes are brought on board.

This guide explains everything clearly - what the card actually does, who qualifies, how to register, how to download it, and how to claim the insurance if you ever need to.
 

What Is the e-Shram Card?

The e-Shram Card is a government-issued digital ID for workers in India's unorganised sector. When you register, you receive a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) that is permanently linked to your Aadhaar and remains valid across states for life.

The card was built with two goals. First, to create a national database of India's informal workforce, which the government uses for welfare delivery, disaster relief and policy planning. Second, to give workers themselves a portable identity and entry point into government schemes that were previously difficult to access.

As of August 2025, over 30.98 crore unorganised workers have registered on the e-Shram portal (eshram.gov.in), with more than 53% being women - making it the world's largest workforce database.

Note: The e-Shram Card is not a bank account, a ration card, or a caste certificate. It is a worker identity and scheme-access document. Your Aadhaar remains your primary ID for banking and government attestation.

Multilingual Portal (22 Languages)

In January 2025, the e-Shram portal was upgraded to support all 22 Scheduled Languages of India, using MEITY's Bhashini AI translation project. Previously accessible only in English, Hindi, Kannada and Marathi, workers across all states can now register and access scheme information in their native language.

What Changed for e-Shram in 2025–26: Key Updates

• Portal now available in 22 languages (Bhashini, Jan 2025)


• Code on Social Security, 2020 enforced from November 21, 2025, gig workers formally defined


• Aggregator module launched December 2024 (12 major platforms onboarded)


• Data Sharing Portal launched for state governments


• Ayushman Bharat extension to gig workers announced (Budget 2025-26, rollout pending)


• Portal advisory to update occupation and profile for continued benefits

Who Should Get the e-Shram Card? (Eligibility)

You are eligible if you meet all four of the following conditions:

Who qualifies (occupation examples): Construction workers, agricultural and farm labourers, domestic workers, street vendors and hawkers, auto-rickshaw and cab drivers, gig workers (Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit), home-based workers, MSME workers without PF/ESI, migrant workers, fishing and forestry workers, small traders, and cobblers/tailors/weavers under the artisan category.

Who does not qualify:

• Anyone already contributing to EPFO (i.e., has a PF account through their employer)


• Anyone covered under ESIC (employee state insurance)


• Income taxpayers


• Government employees

Note for gig workers: Swiggy, Zomato, Ola and Uber delivery and driver partners are classified as unorganised workers and are eligible, provided they are not separately registered under EPFO or paying income tax.

In December 2024, the Ministry of Labour and Employment launched a dedicated Aggregator Module on the e-Shram portal to onboard platform workers through their employers. As of early 2026, 12 major aggregators, including Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber, Blinkit, Amazon, Rapido, Zepto and Urban Company, have been onboarded. The Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into effect on 21 November 2025, formally defines "gig workers" and "platform workers" in Indian law for the first time, entitling them to social security benefits including accident insurance, health and maternity cover, and old-age protection. Draft rules released in December 2025 propose eligibility after 90 days of engagement with one aggregator, or 120 days across multiple platforms in a financial year.

e-Shram Card Benefits in 2026

Here is an honest, scheme-by-scheme breakdown of what the e-Shram Card provides, and what it does not.

1. Rs. 2 Lakh Accident Insurance (PMSBY)
Every registered worker is automatically enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

• First year: The government pays the premium on your behalf — you pay nothing.


• Subsequent years: Rs. 20 per year is auto-debited from your linked bank account on June 1st. If your account has no balance on that date, the coverage lapses. You must renew manually.

2. Monthly Pension After Age 60 (PM-SYM)
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) is a voluntary pension scheme linked to e-Shram. Workers aged 18 to 40 can enrol and contribute Rs. 55 to Rs. 200 per month (amount depends on age at entry). The Central Government contributes an equal amount. In the event of the subscriber's death after age 60, the spouse is entitled to a family pension of Rs. 1,500 per month (50% of the pension amount) for life.

PM-SYM is not automatic; you must register separately at maandhan.in using your e-Shram UAN.

3. Access to 25+ Government Schemes
The e-Shram UAN makes you identifiable to multiple central and state government schemes. The table below shows key schemes and what each provides:

A common misconception: Many workers believe the e-Shram Card itself pays Rs. 1,000 per month. This was a one-time COVID-19 ex-gratia transfer made in 2021 for registered workers. As of 2026, there is no regular monthly cash payment under the e-Shram scheme. Any messages or apps promising this are misinformation.

4. Disaster Relief DBT (Auto-Credit)
This is a benefit that most guides miss. When the government activates disaster relief (for cyclones, floods, heat waves, crop failures), e-Shram registered workers in affected areas can receive direct benefit transfers (DBT) automatically, no application needed. The government uses the e-Shram + Aadhaar-bank linkage to identify and credit workers. This was used during multiple state-level relief operations in 2023–25.

Documents Required for e-Shram Card Registration

No income certificate, caste certificate, employer letter, or photo upload is required. The registration relies entirely on Aadhaar-based verification.
 

How to Register for e-Shram Card Online (Step-by-Step)

Registration is free and takes about 10–15 minutes if your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar.

• Step 1 — Visit the official portal. Go to eshram.gov.in (this is the only official government portal — avoid third-party sites that mimic the URL).


• Step 2 — Click "Register on e-Shram." On the homepage, click the "Register on e-Shram" button.


• Step 3 — Enter your mobile number and Aadhaar. Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and the 12-digit Aadhaar number. Enter the CAPTCHA and click "Send OTP."


• Step 4 — Verify via OTP. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.


• Step 5 — Aadhaar details auto-populated. After OTP verification, your name, date of birth, gender and address are fetched directly from UIDAI. You do not need to type these manually.


• Step 6 — Fill additional details. Enter your occupation (use the NCO code search box if you can't find your exact job), monthly income, educational qualification, bank account details and nominee information.


• Step 7 — Self-declaration and submission. Confirm that you are not registered with EPFO/ESIC and are not an income taxpayer. Submit the form.


• Step 8 — Download your e-Shram Card. Your 12-digit UAN is generated instantly. Download the PDF — this is your e-Shram Card (also called the UAN Card).

How to Register at a CSC (If You Don't Have Internet or an Aadhaar-Linked Mobile)

If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, or you are not comfortable with online registration, visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).

• CSC registration is completely free. Operators are not permitted to charge a fee.


• The CSC operator will verify your identity using biometric fingerprint scanning instead of OTP, so an unlinked mobile is not a problem.


• Find the nearest CSC at locator.csccloud.in or call the helpline 14434 (toll-free, Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–8 PM).

How to Download Your e-Shram Card

If you have already registered and need to download or re-download your card, there are three methods:

• Method 1 - Via eshram.gov.in Login with your UAN or mobile number → OTP verification → Dashboard → Click "Download e-Shram Card" → PDF downloaded.


• Method 2 — Via DigiLocker. Open DigiLocker → Central Government documents → Ministry of Labour and Employment → e-Shram Card. The card is stored here permanently.


• Method 3 — Via UMANG App. Open the UMANG app → Search "e-Shram" → Login with UAN → Download card.

The card displays your photo, name, UAN, date of birth and occupation. It is accepted as proof of identity and informal employment for accessing government welfare schemes.
 

How to Claim the Rs. 2 Lakh Accident Insurance (PMSBY Claim Process)

If a registered worker dies in an accident or becomes permanently disabled, the nominee can file a claim. The process is offline and goes through the worker's registered bank branch.

Documents the nominee must submit:

• e-Shram Card or UAN number


• Aadhaar card of the worker and nominee


• FIR copy (mandatory for accident claims)


• Post-mortem report and death certificate (for death claims)


• Disability certificate from a Civil Surgeon (for disability claims)


• Nominee's bank account details and passbook copy


• Filled PMSBY claim form (available at the bank or at jansuraksha.gov.in)

Process:

• Inform the bank where the e-Shram-linked account is held within 30 days of the accident.


• Submit the PMSBY claim form with all supporting documents.


• The bank verifies the e-KYC and forwards the claim to the insurance company.


• On approval, the amount is credited directly to the nominee's bank account via DBT.

For claim assistance, call 14434 (toll-free).

PMSBY renewal reminder: Coverage runs from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Rs. 20 annual premium is auto-debited on June 1. If your bank balance is zero on that date, your PMSBY coverage lapses. Check your account every year before June 1 to avoid a gap.
 

How to Check e-Shram Payment Status

• Via eshram.gov.in: Login → Dashboard → Payment/Benefit Status section.


• Via PFMS (Public Financial Management System): Visit pfms.nic.in → "Know Your Payment" → Enter Aadhaar or bank account number.


• For Uttar Pradesh workers (state-specific): Visit upssb.in → Search by mobile number to check maintenance allowance (Bhartan Poshan Bhatta) payment status.

How to Update Your e-Shram Profile

Your UAN is permanent and never changes. But you can update the following details any time through eshram.gov.in or a CSC:

• Address and contact number


• Occupation and income


• Bank account and IFSC code


• Nominee details

Keeping your bank details updated is especially important — an outdated account number means DBT payments will fail.
 

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

e-Shram Card vs. State Labour Card — What's the Difference?

Many workers in construction are confused about whether they need an e-Shram Card, a state BOCW (Building and Other Construction Workers) Labour Card, or both.

If you are a construction worker, you should hold both cards. They provide different, non-overlapping benefits.
 

Is e-Shram Registration Mandatory?

No, registration is voluntary. However, it is strongly recommended because:

• It is completely free


• The Rs. 2 lakh accident insurance comes at no cost in the first year


• It requires no documents beyond Aadhaar and a bank account


• Benefits are credited directly to your bank account, no intermediary required


• During government relief operations, registered workers receive DBT credits automatically

The only workers who should not register are those already in EPFO/ESIC or those who file income tax returns.
 

Official Links and Contacts

FAQs