Published: 10 July 2026Press Information BureauEconomy
Eleven Years of Digital India: eSaras Expands Digital Market Access for Rural Self-Help Groups
As the Digital India programme completes eleven years, the Press Information Bureau on 11 July 2026 highlighted eSaras as a leading example of Digital Public Infrastructure being used to widen rural market access. eSaras is the official e-commerce platform of the Ministry of Rural Development, implemented under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). It was developed by the Digital India Corporation (DIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development.
The platform enables Self-Help Groups (SHGs), women entrepreneurs, producer collectives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to market products directly to customers across India. DAY-NRLM today covers over 8.99 crore registered SHG members, making it one of the world's largest women-led livelihood ecosystems. eSaras features more than 1,400 products, including chips, papad, honey, spices, handloom items and handicrafts. Over 800 buyers access SHG products through buyer applications enabled by the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), and SHG products are available on 11 or more ONDC-integrated buyer applications. More than 50 SARAS Melas are organised annually to promote rural enterprises.
Functionally, eSaras provides digital onboarding through the LokOS ecosystem, online product catalogues, inventory management, secure digital payments, integrated logistics and order management, with multilingual access powered by BHASHINI. It also integrates with UMANG and API-based digital verification services. The web portal was launched on 28 October 2022 and the Android application on 28 June 2023.
By reducing dependence on intermediaries and enabling direct access to national markets, eSaras raises returns for rural producers, encourages value addition such as converting raw produce into packaged foods, and supports the Government's vision of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029.
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With reference to the eSaras platform, consider the following statements:
1. It is the official e-commerce platform of the Ministry of Rural Development, implemented under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
2. Products of Self-Help Groups listed on eSaras are sold only through the platform's own portal and are not available on buyer applications integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
3. The platform provides digital onboarding through the LokOS ecosystem and multilingual access through BHASHINI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation · Correct answer CStatement 1 is correct: eSaras is the official e-commerce platform of the Ministry of Rural Development and is implemented under DAY-NRLM; it was built by the Digital India Corporation under MeitY in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development. Statement 2 is incorrect: eSaras is not a closed portal. Self-Help Group products are available through 11 or more buyer applications integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), and over 800 buyers reach these products through ONDC-enabled buyer applications. Statement 3 is correct: the platform offers digital onboarding through the LokOS ecosystem and multilingual access powered by BHASHINI, alongside online catalogues, inventory management, secure digital payments and integrated logistics. Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option C the answer. Options A and D fail because they include the false claim in statement 2, and option B fails because it drops the correct statement 1 while retaining statement 2.
Frequently asked questions
What is eSaras and which ministry owns it?
eSaras is the official e-commerce platform of the Ministry of Rural Development, implemented under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). It lets Self-Help Groups, women entrepreneurs, producer collectives and Farmer Producer Organisations sell directly to customers across India.
Who developed the eSaras platform?
It was developed by the Digital India Corporation (DIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development.
How does ONDC feature in eSaras?
Self-Help Group products listed on eSaras are available through 11 or more buyer applications integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), and over 800 buyers access these products through ONDC-enabled buyer applications, widening market visibility.
How many SHG members does DAY-NRLM cover?
DAY-NRLM covers over 8.99 crore registered Self-Help Group members, described as one of the world's largest women-led livelihood ecosystems.
What is the Lakhpati Didi target linked to eSaras?
By giving verified rural women entrepreneurs direct access to national markets, eSaras supports the Government's vision of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029.
