A Chanderi saree, a marble carving, or a Pashmina shawl can now reach a buyer through one online storefront run by the women’s self-help group that made it. That storefront is eSARAS.
MCQ QuestionseSARAS (SARAS Aajeevika)
8.62 Cr
Women SHG members with an eSARAS digital storefront
As of February 2024; official marketplace of DAY-NRLM.
Parent Scheme
DAY-NRLM
Launched 2011 as NRLM; renamed DAY-NRLM in 2015.
ONDC Reach
20 Cr+ Buyers
Via 11+ buyer apps; 800+ handcrafted products listed.
UMANG Transactions
₹796.69 Cr
As of June 2026, across UMANG’s 2,572 services.
Ground Network
7,627 Blocks
Backed by a 1.51 crore-strong community cadre.
Must Know
eSARAS: Rural Women’s Digital Marketplace
What eSARAS Is
- NameeSARAS, also called SARAS Aajeevika, is the official online marketplace of DAY-NRLM.
- MinistryIt is run by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- ScopeIt is built exclusively for products made by women Self-Help Groups.
DAY-NRLM
- LaunchDAY-NRLM launched in June 2011 as the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
- RenameIt was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM in 2015.
- IdeaThe name honours Deendayal Upadhyaya’s idea of antyodaya, upliftment of the last person.
Products
- ExamplesIt features Chanderi sarees, marble crafts and Pashmina products.
- ReachAs of February 2024, over 8.62 crore women SHG members have a storefront.
Good to Know
Scale and Integration
Product Categories
- SeteSARAS covers five categories: home, apparel, personal care, food, and toys.
Ground Network
- BlocksDAY-NRLM’s network spans 7,627 blocks.
- CadreIt is supported by a community cadre 1.51 crore strong.
Growth Path
- StagesThe platform grew from a portal to a mobile app and a fulfilment centre.
- ONDCIt integrated with ONDC, reaching 20 crore+ buyers across 11+ apps.
- UMANGIt also integrated with UMANG, among 2,572 services.
Test Yourself
Great to Know
Beyond the Digital Storefront
SARAS Shakti Collection
- NewThe SARAS Shakti Collection is a premium curated gift line for institutional buyers.
- LaunchIt launched at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026.
Physical Gallery
- GalleryThe SARAS Aajeevika Gallery is a permanent retail outlet on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi.
Underlying Infrastructure
- LokOSSHG records are digitised through LokOS, DAY-NRLM’s record-keeping platform.
- SpliteSARAS is the marketplace; LokOS is the infrastructure underneath.
Current Affairs
📰 Current Affairs
Growing Reach
- Data11 July 2026: eSaras reaches over 8.99 crore SHG members, up from 8.62 crore in February 2024.
- MelasIt runs over 50 SARAS Melas a year, with a catalogue past 1,400 listings.
- SourcePIB.
Lakhpati Didi Push
- GoalRGVS 2026 pushed toward 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029.
- SourcePIB.
PYQ
Exam Point of View
MCQ Questions
- PrelimsDAY-NRLM, eSARAS and women’s SHG platforms appear in UPSC and other competitive exams.
Written Answer Questions
- ThemeWomen’s economic empowerment and rural livelihoods are recurring GS-II/GS-III themes.
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