Divyanshu G 
(C): X
The Union Budget 2026 has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for the e-Shram Portal Expansion, targeting the registration of 90% of India’s informal migrant workforce. Having upwards of 31 crore employees already on the books, the government is no longer confined to the data collection aspects, but a One-Stop-Solution in the sphere of social security. This program is intended to close the divide between the disjointed state-level information and a national database. The 2026 plan will make the invisibles of the economy, such as gig and platform workers, officially known and fall under the protective cover of the institutional welfare by linking Aadhaar-seeded identities to health and insurance benefits.
Digitizing the Workforce via e-Shram Portal Expansion
The e-Shram Portal Expansion is no longer just a registration drive; it is the cornerstone of a new Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for labor. The 2026 Budget invests a lot of funds to improve the mobile interface and offline CSC (Common Service Centre) access. This ensures that even the most remote Informal Migrant Workforce can access their Universal Account Number (UAN) and link it to the National Career Service (NCS). This digital mapping is essential in monitoring the trend of migration that in turn enables the government to resourcefully allocate resources such as food and healthcare to high-migration zones.
Social Security for the Informal Migrant Workforce
A key objective of the 2026 fiscal plan is to provide “portability” of benefits for the Informal Migrant Workforce. Through the enlarged portal, employees are able to receive access to the PM-Jan Arogya Yojana and accident insurance irrespective of the state of their present residence. With a 90 per cent mapping of this sector, the government aims to remove the middleman leakages, and the Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) should be directed to the appropriate recipients. This shift towards a paperless identity and towards an authenticated online profile represents a big stride towards making India a Viksit Bharat by enabling the workhorse of the Indian labor market.
Official Update Here: https://x.com/LabourMinistry
Disclaimer: Stay informed on human rights and the real stories behind laws and global decisions. Follow updates on labour rights and everyday workplace realities. Learn about the experiences of migrant workers, and explore thoughtful conversations on work-life balance and fair, humane ways of working.
