Blitz Bureau
UNTIL recently, millions of unorganised workers had limited access to and awareness of the benefits of social security schemes available to them. The e-Shram portal addresses this challenge. Unorganised workers now have a unique identification and understanding of the Government’s social security schemes.
The portal, launched in 2021, has registered over 30.7 crore unorganised workers. The portal acts as a ‘one-stop solution’ for workers by integrating around 13 social security schemes in one place, enabling targeted delivery of benefits, improved access, and scheme saturation.
The Union Budget 2025-26 significantly extended social security to gig workers by facilitating e-Shram registration, providing unique identity cards, and expanding coverage under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana.
By sharing workers’ details with the states/ UTs, the portal enables better planning and implementation of worker welfare programmes at the state level. Furthermore, the portal has been integrated with the NCS, SIDH, PM-SYM, myScheme, DISHA, etc. This interlinkage allows workers to register once on e-Shram and seamlessly access multiple scheme portals of Central and state governments, and benefits, such as awareness of scheme entitlements, track benefits availed across schemes, explore job opportunities, pursue skills training, pensions, and insurance, all in one place.
A multilingual facility featuring 22 languages has recently been added to e-Shram by leveraging MEITY’s Bhashini project to enhance accessibility further. State microsites and mobile apps have been launched for further operational ease. These efforts have achieved success, garnered appreciation at home, and have also received recognition globally.
Global recognition
According to the latest update in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) database, India’s social security coverage surged from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025. India ranks second in terms of beneficiary count, which went up to 94.13 crore. This is a result of the ongoing exercise of development of the World Social Protection Report (2026 edition) of ILO.
The growth reported is a result of the Government’s efforts to include state social security schemes along with the 32 Central sector schemes to compute social security coverage in the country. India became the first country to have reported this development in social security coverage under the ongoing exercise of data pooling for the WSPR 2026 edition.
Fund-transfer process
Parallelly, EPFO, with over 34.6 crore members, has implemented several digital reforms to transform into EPFO 2.0. These reforms improve the accessibility to its members and the ease-of-doing business for employers. Key initiatives, including introducing the Universal Account Number, creating a centralised database, the e-passbook, the UMANG app, the e-collection of contributions, and the provision of digital life certificates, have enhanced members’ access to benefits.
The introduction of the Centralised Pension Payment System under EPFO is set to benefit 77 lakh pensioners with access to pensions from anywhere in the country. Additionally, the increase in the limit of auto-claim settlement to Rs 1 lakh is expected to impact around 7.5 crore members with faster claim settlements positively. The EPFO has also simplified the fund-transfer process, benefiting over 1.25 crore members and facilitating the yearly transfer of around Rs 90,000 crore. Through these reforms, the modernisation and digitisation of EPFO are set to increase efficiency and reduce reliance on manual processes, making it easier for both members and employers to navigate the system.
Government policy interventions must be backed by active participation from the industry. A prime example of the industry’s vital role is the e-Shram initiative, where the successful implementation of social security for gig and platform workers relies heavily on the involvement of platform aggregators. Employers must recognise that creating a safe, secure, and satisfactory workplace, as well as providing social security for workers, is essential for longterm productivity.
Additionally, while addressing the social security needs of workers, it is crucial to offer targeted and ongoing support to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. This support promotes economic and social mobility and helps eliminate barriers that prevent participation in the workforce and the economy.