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Government Services

e-Shram Card: Eligibility, Registration and Benefits

Unorganised workers aged 16+ who don't pay income tax and aren't in EPFO or ESIC can get a free e-Shram card with a UAN on eshram.gov.in.

RM

Written by Rohan Mehta

Published 27 September 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections
Credsir Government Services guide cover with a id card icon

You can register for a free e-Shram card if you are 16 or older, work in the unorganised sector, and are not an EPFO or ESIC member or an income-tax payer. Self-registration on eshram.gov.in takes an Aadhaar number and an Aadhaar-linked mobile. The card gives you a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). It carries no money of its own, but it links you to schemes such as the PM-SYM pension.

Key facts

Item Detail
Run by Ministry of Labour and Employment; portal built by NIC
Launched 26 August 2021
Age 16 years or above
Not eligible Income-tax payers, and EPFO or ESIC members
What you need Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number
Fee Free, with no last date
Card validity Never expires; no renewal needed
Cards issued 31,96,32,920, per the e-Shram home page on 16 September 2026
Helpdesk 14434 or 18008896811, 9 am to 6 pm, every day

Who can register

The e-Shram FAQ calls you an unorganised worker if you are home-based, self-employed or a wage worker in the unorganised sector, and not an ESIC or EPFO member. The unorganised sector means units with fewer than 10 workers. PIB adds that a worker in the organised sector also counts if they are not in ESIC, EPFO or government service.

Typical registrants include:

  • agricultural labourers and landless farmers
  • construction, domestic and migrant workers
  • street vendors and home-based workers
  • gig and platform workers, such as delivery and ride-hailing partners (about 11.5 lakh have registered)

There is no income ceiling, no education requirement and no upper age limit. You do not need proof of date of birth or income. You must not pay income tax, though, and the FAQ says EPFO, ESIC and the income-tax department check the data from time to time.

Documents and self-registration steps

For self-registration you need your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to it. PIB also lists bank account details, which are used to pay scheme benefits. If your mobile is not linked to Aadhaar, go to a Common Service Centre (CSC) or State Seva Kendra and register with your fingerprint. You do not have to hand over any documents at the CSC.

  1. Open register.eshram.gov.in and go to Self Registration.
  2. Enter your mobile number (Aadhaar-linked is preferred) and the captcha.
  3. Answer No to the questions on active EPFO and ESIC membership.
  4. Verify your mobile with the OTP.
  5. Complete Aadhaar e-KYC. Your photo and basic details come from Aadhaar.
  6. Fill in your address, education, occupation and skills.
  7. Add your bank account details.
  8. Submit and download your e-Shram card with the UAN.

Pick your occupation carefully. The portal asks for your main occupation, the one that earns you the most, and you can add a secondary one. Nobody may charge you for registering, including at a CSC.

Downloading and updating the card

Download or reprint

  1. On eshram.gov.in, click Already Registered? LOGIN.
  2. Enter your UAN and date of birth, fill in the captcha and click Generate OTP.
  3. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile.
  4. Download the UAN card from your profile.

e-Shram services are also offered on UMANG and on the new e-Shram mobile app.

Update your details

You can change your mobile number, current address, occupation, education and skills on the portal or at a CSC. If your registered mobile has changed, use Update profile using Aadhaar under the Already Registered menu. You cannot change your photo on e-Shram. Update it in Aadhaar, then redo Aadhaar e-KYC on e-Shram.

The home page currently asks registrants to update their profile and occupation for continued benefits. It is worth logging in once to check.

Benefits linked to e-Shram

Since 21 October 2024, e-Shram has worked as a “One-Stop Solution”. Fifteen central schemes are mapped to it, and you can see which ones you have used. They include:

Scheme What it offers
PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) ₹3,000 a month pension from age 60, if you join between 18 and 40
PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) ₹2 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability; ₹1 lakh for partial disability
PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) ₹2 lakh life cover for death from any cause
Others PM-SVANidhi, PMAY-G, PMAY-U, AB PM-JAY, PM-KISAN, One Nation One Ration Card and more

You can enrol in PMSBY and PMJJBY through the portal. For how accident cover works, see our page on personal accident insurance. The portal also links to the National Career Service for jobs and the Skill India Digital Hub for training.

PM-SYM pension

PM-SYM is open to unorganised workers aged 18 to 40 who earn ₹15,000 a month or less. EPFO, ESIC and income-tax payers cannot join, and nor can members of government-funded NPS. You pay ₹55 to ₹200 a month, depending on your age at entry, and the Centre adds an equal amount. You can enrol at a CSC or on maandhan.in. More than 54 lakh people had joined by 29 July 2026. Our overview of government financial schemes covers other options.

The “check balance” myth

There is no e-Shram balance to check. The card is an ID with a UAN, and the FAQ says only registration is being done through e-Shram at present. Any scheme money is paid to your bank account under that scheme’s own rules, so check your bank passbook or the scheme’s own portal.

The confusion has a history. At the launch in August 2021, the government announced ₹2 lakh of accident cover for every registered worker. Today PIB describes PMSBY as a scheme you enrol in through e-Shram. Do not assume you are insured just because you hold the card.

Ignore messages that ask for a fee or your OTP to “release” e-Shram money. If you have a problem, call 14434 or file a grievance at gms.eshram.gov.in.

If you later join a formal job with PF, your employer’s scheme applies instead. See our guide to EPF and VPF.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the e-Shram card?

Unorganised workers aged 16 or above who are not income-tax payers and not EPFO or ESIC members.

How do I download my e-Shram card by mobile number?

Log in at eshram.gov.in with your UAN, date of birth and the OTP sent to your registered mobile, then download the card. If your mobile has changed, use Update profile using Aadhaar first.

Is there any money in the e-Shram card?

No. The card is an identity card with a UAN. Benefits come only through the schemes you qualify for and join.

Is e-Shram registration free?

Yes. Registration is free on the portal and at CSCs, and there is no last date.

Does the e-Shram card expire?

No. It never expires and does not need renewal, but you should keep your details up to date.

What happens when I turn 60?

Nothing changes. Your UAN stays valid, and each scheme applies its own age rules.

Can a farmer register on e-Shram?

Agricultural labourers and landless farmers can register.

Sources

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