The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is looking at technology solutions in order to allow workers from the informal sector, who are registered on the e-Shram portal to open pension accounts using their mobile phone, PFRDA Chairperson Sivasubramanian Ramann said, PTI reported.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 this week, Ramann <\/a>said the move would be aimed at expanding pension coverage among the large informal workforce. A number of these workers do not receive regular monthly salary or pay income tax, the report added.<\/p>\n How will the initiative work?<\/p>\n According to Ramann, the PFRDA <\/a>could put the Labour Ministry’s e-Shram database to use and enable option to open pension accounts through simple stepwise process using mobile phones.<\/p>\n He said, \u201cWe also have a very large database created by the Ministry of Labour on the e-Shram database. It is a well-refined and authentic database containing many of the fields that are already required to open a pension <\/a>account. We are, therefore, looking at how people, who are already registered on the database, can be enabled to open pension accounts through a simple, few-click process on their mobile phones. Once the account is opened, they can use UPI to make contributions to it.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Ramann, the regulator is exploring the use of the e-Shram database to facilitate pension account opening as it already contains many of the fields required to open a pension account, enabling a simplified digital onboarding process.<\/p>\n