The Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken significant steps to strengthen social security coverage for gig and platform workers through the e-Shram portal, launched on 26 August 2021, which provides unorganised workers with a Universal Account Number (UAN). To streamline registration, an Aggregator Module was introduced on 12 December 2024, enabling onboarding of major platform aggregators such as Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, Ola, Amazon, and others. For the first time, the Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into force on 21 November 2025, formally defines gig and platform workers and provides for welfare measures including life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old-age protection, and the creation of a Social Security Fund. Recognizing the rapid growth of the gig economy, the Union Budget 2025–26 announced key initiatives such as mandatory e-Shram registration, issuance of identity cards, and extension of healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY, supported by data integration between e-Shram and PMJAY and nationwide registration drives conducted in collaboration with States and Union Territories.
