The table below summarises some key details about the E-Shram card 2026 that one should know.

What is the E-Shram card?	A national digital identity card, using which beneficiaries can access related government schemes and services.
Issued by	Ministry of Labour and Employment
Database linkage	NDUW (National Database of Unorganised Workers)
Who can apply for the e-Shram card?	Unorganised workers between the ages of 16 and 59 years.
Mode of registration	Online through the e-Shram portal or UMANG app, or offline through CSC centres.
Cost of applying for an e-Shram card	It is completely free of cost.
What is a UAN (Universal Account Number) and its purpose?	A unique 12-digit number is assigned to each e-Shram card holder. It acts as a permanent identity used for reaping various related schemes and benefits.
Portability	Valid across India.
Major schemes accessible through the card	PM-SYM pension / ₹3,000/month, ₹2 lakh insurance / PMSBY (PM Suraksha Bima Yojana) linked with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission for healthcare-related services, and many others.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment created and introduced a card called the eShram Card, especially for the people engaged in the unorganised sector workers, like construction workers, gig workers, migrant workers, street vendors, etc. The primary aim behind the creation of this card is to provide formal recognition to workers working in the unorganised sector, and allow them to access various related government welfare schemes and services without having to submit multiple documents to apply for various schemes. The card comprises a UAN (Universal Account Number), which is a unique 12-digit number that helps the government authorities in identifying and providing people with social security benefits.

The ministry created an online portal called the e-Shram portal, which is linked to the NDUW (National Database of Unorganised Workers), so that people can easily apply for the card from the comfort of their homes, and the authorities can easily verify their identity-related information. In relation to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the e-Shram card aims to digitally incorporate the identities of the workers in the unorganised sector with healthcare and other related systems.

Individuals are required to fulfil all the eligibility conditions to successfully apply for the e-Shram card. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Applicant must be working as a worker in the unorganised sector, such as street vendors, construction workers, gig workers, migrant labourers, etc.

• Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 59 years.

• Applicant must not be a member under formal social security systems, like the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) or the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

• Applicants must not be income taxpayers, as it indicates a stable income.

• Applicants must not be beneficiaries of any other central or state government welfare schemes.

Individuals need to attach some supporting documents to complete the registration process for an E Shram card. The list of required documents is as follows:

• Proof of identity, like an Aadhaar card.

• Bank account details.

Eligible people interested in applying for an e-Shram card can do so through both online and offline platforms. The E Shram card registration process for both methods is described below in a detailed stepwise manner for one’s holistic understanding.

Step 1: Please visit the eshram.gov.in (official portal) and then click on the ‘register’ option to start the registration process.

Step 2: Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and then click on ‘Yes’ if you are a member of the EPFO or ESIC, if not a member, then please click on ‘No’.

Step 3: Complete the verification procedure by entering your Aadhaar card number and validating through the One-Time Password (OTP) that will be sent to your registered mobile number.

Step 4: After the verification process, the system will require you to fill in your personal information, like address, educational qualification, occupation-related details, etc.

Step 5: Enter your bank account details as well, so that the financial aid can get credited directly into your accounts.

Step 6: Upload the supporting documents, recheck the filled information, and then click on ‘Submit’.

Step 1: Please download the UMANG application on your device from the Play Store or App Store based on your mobile’s operating system. As it gets downloaded, please log in to the app or register using your personal details.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the search bar and search for ‘e-Shram’ services, and then select the ‘Register on e-Shram’ option.

Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar card number, linked mobile number, and complete the verification using the One-Time Password that you will receive on your mobile number.

Step 4: After verification, fill in your personal details, upload the supporting documents, review the filled information once before the final submission, and then click on ‘Submit’, after which your UAN will be generated by the system.

Step 1: Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) and request the employees working there to assist you with the creation of an e-Shram card.

Step 2: Provide them with your Aadhaar number, linked mobile number, and biometric scans so that they can complete your identity verification before starting the formal registration process.

Step 3: The employees at the CSC will ask you for your personal details and bank-related details. Please provide them with all the needed information.

Step 4: Please recheck the information filled in by the employee and then have them submit the application form on your behalf. After submission, the system will generate your UAN (Universal Account Number), and you will be provided with the soft copy of your e-Shram card.

One can apply for the E-Shram card registration by following the process outlined below for clarity. The registration process is broken down into steps for one’s better understanding:

Step 1: Please visit the official website of Jaagruk Bharat.

Step 2: Find the ‘services’ option, and navigate to the ‘e-Shram card’ option.

Step 3: Fill in the requested information and upload the required documents.

Step 4: Make the payment and complete the registration process, and then let us take care of the rest.

Applicants can download their respective e-Shram cards in numerous ways. Some of the major E Shram Card Download methods are mentioned below in brief for one’s reference:

Step 1: Visit the official website of e-Shram and then select the ‘Log in’ option.

Step 2: Choose ‘Mobile number’ to log in to the portal. Ensure that your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar card. Validate using the OTP sent to your mobile number to move to the next step.

Step 3: After logging in to your account, navigate to the ‘Download UAN card’ option, after which the digital copy of your e-Shram card will get stored in your device in PDF format.

Step 1: Please visit the official website of e-Shram and then log in to your account.

Step 2: For logging in, choose the ‘UAN’ option and then enter your 12-digit UAN (Universal Account Number).

Step 3: You will receive an OTP on your mobile number. Enter it, after which you will be logged in to your account.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Download UAN card’ option, after which the digital copy of your e-Shram card will get stored in your device in PDF format.

Step 1: Please visit the official website or application of DigiLocker.

Step 2: Ensure that your Aadhaar is linked with your DigiLocker account.

Step 3: Log in to the portal and then go to the ‘Issued Documents’ section and search for ‘e-Shram or UAN card’.

Step 4: Click to view the card and then select the ‘Download’ option, after which the digital copy of the card will be stored on your device in PDF format.

One of the features added for the beneficiaries' convenience is the E Shram Card Balance Check and E Shram Card Payment Status. One can check both things in various ways following a simple procedure. We have explained each of the ways in a brief manner.

Step 1: Please visit the official website of the PFMS (Public Finance Management System) portal

Step 2: On the homepage, you will find the ‘Know Your Payments’ option under DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) services.

Step 3: Fill in the required details, like the name of your bank and account number.

Step 4: After entering the needed information, submit the information, after which the system will show you the details of the payment, like the current balance and the status of the payment.

Step 1: Please download the UMANG application on your mobile device from the Play Store or App Store.

Step 2: Search for ‘DBT services’ and then fill in your bank-related information.

Step 3: After cross-checking your entered information, the system will show you the details of the payment, like the current balance and the status of the payment.

Beneficiaries can also do the E Shram Card Balance Check and E Shram Card Payment Status check process through the state govt portals. Simply visit the official website of your respective state government and search for the relevant options.

Cardholders can also opt for the option of updating or correcting information, like mobile number, bank-related details, address, or others in their existing e-Shram cards. One can do it by following some simple steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Please visit the official website of the e-Shram portal.

Step 2: Log in to your account using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number or UAN and validate using the OTP sent to your phone.

Step 3: After logging in to your e-Shram account, visit the specific section that you would like to update or correct, such as ‘Mobile Update’, ‘Update Bank Details’, ‘Address Update’, etc.

Step 4: Enter the new details that should reflect in your account in place of the old. Double-check everything before submitting and then click on ‘Submit’.

One should and must opt for the services provided by Jaagruk Bharat because of some key reasons:

• Digitised Process: Jaagruk Bharat is an online platform that lets you apply for an e-Shram card from home. The registration process is fully digitised; you will not need to visit any government or private offices or departments or stand in long queues. Please be assured that the platform utilises highly secure, verified, and encrypted channels to protect your sensitive personal information. This not only reduces paperwork but also saves time and unnecessary effort.

• Direction: Proper guidance is one of the most common challenges when applying for the e-Shram card. Hence, the platform provides clear instructions that eliminate doubt and confusion about the application process, enabling users from all backgrounds to understand and follow them.

• Enhances ease: A smooth user experience is a core principle of Jaagruk Bharat. In a few steps and with basic information, Jaagruk Bharat will help you complete complex tasks, such as the E Shram card registration process. All we need from you is a few basic details. Our interface is extremely easy to navigate and figure out.

• Assistance team: Our platform has a dedicated assistance team available via chat to address questions and queries. The assistance team is trained to handle both technical and process-related questions so that none of you feels stuck or more confused.

• Fair charges: Affordability and transparency are seeped into our foundations. Services provided by Jaagruk Bharat, such as e-Shram card download or checking the e-Shram card status, are offered at affordable prices so everyone can access our services without worrying about high costs.

An E Shram Card 2026 is one of the most exceptional measures introduced by the government for the workers in the unorganised sector. Some of the e-Shram Card benefits are:

• A unique identification to avail social security benefits.

• Access to premium healthcare services at affordable rates.

• Provides health insurance coverage worth Rs. 2 lakh against accidents.

• Right to old age pensions or disability pensions.

• Right to free annual health checkups.

The overall aim and the major benefits of the e-Shram card remain the same, but the state government authorities differ from each other when it comes to specific benefits. We have compiled a focused table summarising the key benefits provided by major state governments, like UP, Bihar, MP, Karnataka, etc.

Name of the state	Main benefits provided to e-Shram cardholders
Uttar Pradesh	Cash benefits, linked to ration.
Madhya Pradesh	Provides maternity aid, assistance when one gets into an accident, and other benefits concerning labour welfare.
Bihar	Pension schemes and other social welfare programs.
Karnataka	Focused on providing skill training, employment opportunities, and other benefits.
Others	Other states focus on providing financial aid along with access to other welfare programs

If a worker is not a part of the e-Shram card list, they might struggle to access certain major social security benefits, such as premium healthcare services, health insurance coverage, pensions, and maternity benefits for women. Hence, all the eligible individuals must avail the benefits of the card, a card that is specially designed for them.

The government has tried to create an extremely simplified registration process for an e-Shram card. However, people still end up facing many issues, such as a mismatch of information, problems in retrieving UAN, etc. majorly because of errors committed by them and insome cases because of system issues.

We have listed a few common problems that people face along with their solutions so that you can navigate the portal with as much ease as possible:

• One of the most common problems that applicants face while using the portal for registration or for login is the blocking of OTP delivery. There are numerous reasons why this might happen, but the most popular and the most probable one is that one’s mobile number is not linked with their respective Aadhaar cards. If this is the case, please link both of them as soon as possible through the UIDAI portal, and if the linking is already done, wait for a few minutes and retry again.

• Another one of the common issues that people end up facing is the failure of Aadhaar verification. To resolve this issue, first, check the information that you filled in and check if you made any errors, as a minor mistake can also cause unnecessary delays or possible rejections of applications. If everything that you entered into the portal is correct, then log out of the portal and try again. If the issue persists, you can contact the E Shram Card helpline 14434.

Many of us think that both e-Shram and a labour card are the same; however, they are different. The differences between them are laid out below in a tabular format:

Component	E-Shram card	Labour Card
Issued by	Ministry of Labour and Employment	By state government labour departments.
Linked to which database?	NDUW (National Database of Unorganised Workers)	Linked to State Labour Welfare Boards
Covers	Unorganised workers	Covers specifically construction workers or other specific professions under the unorganised sector, not the whole sector.
Eligibility criteria	Unorganised workers between the ages of 16 to 59 years, non-EPFO or ESIC.	Varies from one state government to another.
Scope based on geography	Nationwide.	State-specific.
Registered through	Online via the e-Shram portal or offline through CSCs.	Online via state government websites or offline through the labour departments of the state.
Major benefits	Concerning financial aid, insurance, etc.	Concerning pension, maternity, education aid, etc.