10.65 lakh gig workers register on e-Shram as Ayushman Bharat cover awaits rollout
More than 10.65 lakh platform workers have registered on e-Shram, while the Budget 2025-26 promise of Ayushman Bharat cover for 1 crore gig workers remains unimplemented. Aggregators including Zomato, Blinkit and Swiggy are sharing worker data under new social-security rules.
What happened
Indian gig and platform economy · Over 10.65 lakh platform workers are registered on e-Shram, but Ayushman Bharat health cover promised for one crore gig
Key facts
- Over 10.65 lakh platform workers registered on e-Shram as of July 14, 2026
- Budget 2025-26 pledged Ayushman Bharat cover for 1 crore gig workers
- India had about 1.2 crore gig workers in FY25
- Gig workforce rose 55% from 77 lakh in FY21 to 1.2 crore in FY25
- 21 aggregators joined the e-Shram Aggregator Module
- Gig work projected at 6.7% of non-agricultural workforce by 2029-30
- Estimated GDP contribution: ₹2.35 lakh crore
Why this matters
Any platform partnership or acquisition should diligence worker-data systems and contingent social-security liabilities as aggregator reporting requirements tighten.
What to watch
- Formal government notification specifying rollout date, eligible worker definition and benefit package.
- Budget release or ministry allocation identifying funding for the promised 1 crore beneficiaries.
- Ayushman Bharat dashboard or e-Shram updates showing platform-worker eligibility or issued cards.
- Rules or enforcement notices requiring aggregator social-security contributions or regular worker-data submissions.
- Platform announcements tying worker onboarding, insurance or incentives to e-Shram registration.
- State-level pilots, especially in large delivery and ride-hailing markets, that reveal claims and portability mechanics.
- Link e-Shram registration to active platform work records, Aadhaar verification and state-level beneficiary databases.
- Issue eligibility, premium-funding, claims and portability rules for Ayushman Bharat coverage of platform workers.
- Use major aggregators such as Zomato, Blinkit and Swiggy as early implementation partners for worker-data reconciliation and enrollment nudges.
- Increase scrutiny of aggregator compliance with social-security reporting and potential contribution obligations.
- Accelerate platform-worker acquisition campaigns as health cover becomes a retention and recruitment differentiator.