Every morning, millions of Indians leave home for informal work — the mason on a construction site, the domestic worker in someone’s home, the vegetable vendor on a cart, the farm labourer, the delivery rider. For years, these workers had no official identity at all. No provident fund, no pension, no insurance. If an accident happened or work stopped, there was nothing to fall back on.
To fix this, the Government of India launched the e-Shram Portal on 26 August 2021. Every worker who registers gets a 12-digit UAN (Universal Account Number) and a digital e-Shram Card. That card becomes your national identity as a worker — it stays valid across the whole country, no matter which state or city you move to for work. In this guide, we explain in simple words what the e-Shram Card is, who can get it, what its real benefits are, the full step-by-step process to register and download it, and which false claims you must ignore.
e-Shram Card 2026 — At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Card name | e-Shram Card |
| Launched | 26 August 2021 |
| Run by | Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India |
| Official portal | eshram.gov.in |
| Registration fee | Completely free |
| Identity number | 12-digit UAN (Universal Account Number), valid for life |
| Registrations so far | More than 31.89 crore (August 2026, PIB) |
| Age limit | 16 to 59 years |
| Biggest benefit | Accident insurance up to Rs 2 lakh under PMSBY |
| Pension link | Rs 3,000 per month from age 60 under PM-SYM (needs separate enrolment) |
What Is the e-Shram Card?
The e-Shram Card is a digital identity card for workers in the unorganised sector. The e-Shram Portal was created as India’s first national database of unorganised workers. When you register, you get a 12-digit UAN printed on your e-Shram Card.
This card is more than a piece of paper — it records your presence in the government’s system. Whenever the government launches a new scheme for unorganised workers, or needs to send direct help during a disaster, it uses this database. On 21 October 2024, the e-Shram One-Stop Solution was launched, bringing 15 central welfare schemes onto a single platform — so once you are registered, information about many schemes reaches you in one place.
One important clarification: the e-Shram UAN is NOT the same as the EPFO UAN. The EPFO UAN belongs to the provident fund account of organised-sector employees, while the e-Shram UAN is the national identity of an unorganised worker. The two numbers are different and cannot be used in place of each other.
Who Can Get an e-Shram Card? Eligibility
You can register for an e-Shram Card if you meet ALL of these conditions:
- Age: You must be between 16 and 59 years old.
- Work: You work in the unorganised sector — for example, construction worker, domestic worker, street vendor, farm labourer, rickshaw driver, tailor, carpenter, sanitation worker, delivery or gig worker.
- Not in EPFO/ESIC: You must not be a member of EPFO or ESIC.
- Income tax: You must not be an income-tax payer.
- Documents: You need an Aadhaar number and a mobile number linked to that Aadhaar. Bank account details are also asked for, so that any future help can reach your account directly.
If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, you cannot register online by yourself. In that case, visit your nearest CSC (Common Service Centre), where your registration can be done with biometric verification.
Real Benefits of the e-Shram Card — What You Get and What You Do Not
There is a lot of wrong information about the e-Shram Card on the internet. Let us be clear first: the card does not send Rs 1,000 or Rs 3,000 into your account every month. e-Shram is not a cash-transfer scheme. It is a tool for identity and protection. Its real benefits are:
1. Accident Insurance of Rs 2 Lakh (PMSBY)
Registered workers are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). In case of accidental death or total permanent disability, Rs 2 lakh is paid; for partial disability, Rs 1 lakh. The first year’s premium of Rs 20 is paid by the government. This is the most immediate and biggest benefit of the card.
2. Life Insurance of Rs 2 Lakh (PMJJBY) — Separate Enrolment Needed
Under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Rs 2 lakh life cover is paid on death due to any cause. For this, you must enrol separately through your bank and pay a small yearly premium — it does not join automatically.
3. PM-SYM Pension — Rs 3,000 Per Month After Age 60
Under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM), a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month is paid after the age of 60. But this pension does not start when the card is made. You must enrol separately, pay your own monthly contribution of Rs 55 to Rs 200, and join before the age of 40. Anyone who makes only the e-Shram Card and waits for Rs 3,000 a month is mistaken — the pension comes only if you join PM-SYM separately and keep paying the contribution.
4. Link to 15 Schemes and Direct Help in Disasters
Through the One-Stop Solution, e-Shram Card holders can reach 15 central schemes related to pension, housing, health and skill development. During any national disaster or pandemic, the government can use this database to send help straight to bank accounts through DBT — without any middleman.
| Benefit | Amount | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Accident insurance (PMSBY) | Rs 2 lakh for death/total disability; Rs 1 lakh for partial disability | Linked with registration; first year free |
| Life insurance (PMJJBY) | Rs 2 lakh on death due to any cause | Separate enrolment through bank |
| Pension (PM-SYM) | Rs 3,000/month from age 60 | Separate enrolment + monthly contribution of Rs 55-200 |
| National identity (UAN) | 12-digit number, valid for life | Generated immediately on registration |
How to Make an e-Shram Card Online: Step-by-Step
Self-registration is very easy — the whole thing can be done from your mobile phone in about 10 minutes. It costs nothing.
- Open the official portal: In your mobile or computer browser, open eshram.gov.in.
- Start registration: On the homepage, click “Register on e-Shram”. (Direct self-registration page: register.eshram.gov.in)
- Enter your mobile number: Enter the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, fill the captcha, and click “Send OTP”.
- Verify the OTP: Enter the OTP sent to your mobile.
- Enter your Aadhaar number: Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and complete the OTP verification.
- Fill in your details: Enter your name, date of birth, address, type of work (occupation), education and bank account details (account number and IFSC).
- Submit the form: Check all the details and submit.
- Download your card: Your 12-digit UAN is created at once, and the screen shows “Download UAN Card” — click it to save the PDF or take a printout.
The portal is available in 22 languages, so you can fill the form in your own language.
How to Get an e-Shram Card from a CSC Centre
If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, or you have trouble filling the online form, go to your nearest CSC (Common Service Centre). The operator there will verify you with biometrics (fingerprint) and complete your registration. Carry your Aadhaar card and bank passbook with you. Registration at a CSC is also free — if anyone asks you for money for it, that is wrong, and you can complain about it.
How to Download the e-Shram Card (If You Are Already Registered)
If you are already registered and have lost your card or need it again, follow these steps:
- Open eshram.gov.in and click “Already Registered? Update”.
- Enter your UAN number, date of birth and captcha.
- Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile.
- When your profile opens, click “Download UAN Card” and save the PDF.
You can also view and download your e-Shram Card from the UMANG app — search for the e-Shram service in the app and log in with your registered mobile number.
How to Check e-Shram Card Balance and Status
There is no “balance” on the e-Shram Card, because it is not a bank account. But if the government has sent any help to your account, you can check its status like this:
- PFMS portal: Go to pfms.nic.in and use the “Know Your Payments” section with your bank account details to see whether any government payment has arrived.
- UMANG app: In the UMANG app, the e-Shram service shows your registration and card status.
- Bank account: The simplest way — check your bank account mini-statement or passbook. Any government help comes only to your Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
What Is New for Gig and Platform Workers?
A big 2026 update concerns gig workers. On 1 June 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment directed all aggregator companies (such as food-delivery and cab platforms) to complete the e-Shram onboarding of their platform workers by 21 June 2026. According to PIB, about 11.5 lakh platform workers were registered by August 2026. So delivery riders and cab drivers are now also joining this safety net.
Also, from 21 November 2025, all four Labour Codes have come into effect, including the Code on Social Security, 2020 — the same code under which social security for unorganised workers is being strengthened further.
Stay Safe from Fraud — Always Remember These Points
- Registration is completely free. Any website or person asking for money to make the card is fake.
- eshram.gov.in is the only real portal. Do not enter your details on any look-alike website.
- The card does not give monthly money by itself. Claims like “Rs 1,000 every month” or “Rs 3,000 straight into your account” are false — the Rs 3,000 PM-SYM pension needs separate enrolment and monthly contribution.
- Never share your UAN or OTP with anyone. No government officer asks for your OTP on the phone.
- Never pay money after clicking a link to “check balance”. Government payments come only to your bank account, never through a link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How much does it cost to make an e-Shram Card?
A: Not a single rupee. Both registration and card download on the e-Shram Portal are completely free. No fee is charged at CSC centres either.
Q2: Will I start getting money every month once the card is made?
A: No. The card does not send any monthly amount to your account. It is a tool for identity and protection. Money comes only under a scheme or disaster relief, through DBT. The Rs 3,000 PM-SYM pension comes after age 60, and only with separate enrolment and contributions.
Q3: Which documents are needed for the e-Shram Card?
A: Only your Aadhaar number, the mobile number linked to Aadhaar, and your bank account details (account number + IFSC). No other document is needed.
Q4: My mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar. What should I do?
A: You cannot register online by yourself in that case. Go to your nearest CSC (Common Service Centre) and get registered with biometric verification.
Q5: What is the difference between the e-Shram UAN and the EPFO UAN?
A: They are different. The EPFO UAN is linked to the provident fund account of organised-sector employees, while the e-Shram UAN is the national identity of an unorganised worker. One cannot be used in place of the other.
Q6: I lost my card. How do I download it again?
A: Go to eshram.gov.in, click “Already Registered? Update”, log in with your UAN number, date of birth and OTP, and download the card again. It can also be downloaded from the UMANG app.
Q7: Can I get an Ayushman Card with the e-Shram Card?
A: The e-Shram Card does not directly create an Ayushman Card, but under the One-Stop Solution, e-Shram holders get information and linkage to health schemes in one place. The Ayushman Card needs a separate eligibility check and application.
Q8: Does the e-Shram Card expire?
A: No. Once created, the UAN stays valid for life and works the same across the whole country — you do not need to make it again if you change state or city.
Official Links
- e-Shram Portal (registration and download): eshram.gov.in
- Self-registration: register.eshram.gov.in
- Payment status (PFMS): pfms.nic.in — “Know Your Payments”
- UMANG app: download from Google Play Store / Apple App Store
- Ministry of Labour and Employment: labour.gov.in
Disclaimer: This article is written by a private information portal (not a government website) for general information. For final and official information about the scheme, please visit eshram.gov.in or the website of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
If you work in the unorganised sector — whether it is construction, domestic work or delivery work — make your e-Shram Card today. It is free, it takes only 10 minutes, and it opens the door to a Rs 2 lakh insurance cover and a link to government schemes when times are hard.
