Digital Inclusion and Social Security: Evaluating the Five-Year Trajectory of the e-Shram Portal

The e-Shram portal, launched as a flagship initiative to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), has completed five years of operation. In a country where the informal sector constitutes a significant majority of the workforce, the portal represents a paradigm shift in governance—moving from fragmented, manual record-keeping to a unified, digital-first approach. By capturing data on migrant workers, construction laborers, gig workers, and domestic help, the platform has become a cornerstone for evidence-based policymaking. The primary strength of the e-Shram initiative lies in its integration with 15 major social security and welfare schemes. This interoperability ensures that the 'last-mile' delivery of benefits—ranging from insurance coverage to pension schemes and skill development programs—is seamless and transparent. By providing a unique identification number to workers, the government has effectively reduced the information asymmetry that previously hindered the reach of social safety nets. Furthermore, the portal acts as a vital tool for disaster management and crisis response, as demonstrated by the government's ability to identify and support vulnerable populations during economic shocks.