eSARAS is the official online marketplace of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) for products made by women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations. Launched on 28 October 2022, it was developed by the Digital India Corporation under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

🏛️ Platform & Institutional Framework

DAY-NRLM is a flagship rural livelihoods programme of the Ministry of Rural Development. eSARAS provides marketing, branding and logistics support for SHG products and connects rural producers with national markets. As of February 2024, 85% of its users were directly linked to the Ministry’s network.

📱 Digital Reach & Commerce Integration

As of 1 July 2026, more than 8.62 crore women SHG members had a digital storefront through eSARAS. The platform has integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the UMANG platform.

  • 8.62 crore+ women SHG members with a digital storefront.
  • Integrated with ONDC and the UMANG platform.
  • Through ONDC, products reach 11+ buyer apps and 20 crore+ potential buyers.

🧵 Product Categories & Regional Crafts

eSARAS lists products across home and living, apparel and accessories, personal care, food items and kids’ toys. It features Chanderi sarees from Madhya Pradesh, marble handicrafts from Rajasthan and Pashmina products from Jammu and Kashmir.

🏬 Physical Retail & Premium Collection

A permanent SARAS Aajeevika Gallery operates at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in New Delhi. The Ministry of Rural Development also introduced the premium SARAS Shakti Collection at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026 for institutional and corporate buyers.

📌 Key Points (Important Facts for Exams)

• eSARAS is the official online marketplace of DAY-NRLM (Ministry of Rural Development).
• Launched on 28 October 2022; developed by Digital India Corporation.
• 8.62 crore+ women SHG members had a digital storefront by 1 July 2026.
• Integrated with ONDC and UMANG platforms.
• UMANG is a government mobile platform for public services in India.

🎯 Conclusion

eSARAS empowers rural women entrepreneurs by giving SHG products national digital reach through ONDC and UMANG — strengthening rural livelihoods, market access and value addition under DAY-NRLM.

📝 Practice MCQs

Q1. eSARAS is the online marketplace of which mission?

a) PMAY
b) DAY-NRLM
c) MGNREGA
d) DDU-GKY
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) DAY-NRLM.

Q2. eSARAS primarily sells products made by:

a) Large industries
b) Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
c) Foreign exporters
d) PSU factories
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Q3. eSARAS was launched in which year?

a) 2020
b) 2021
c) 2022
d) 2024
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (c) 2022 (28 October 2022).

Q4. eSARAS was developed by:

a) NIC
b) Digital India Corporation
c) C-DAC
d) BEL
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Digital India Corporation.

Q5. DAY-NRLM is administered by which ministry?

a) Ministry of Commerce
b) Ministry of Rural Development
c) Ministry of Textiles
d) Ministry of MSME
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Ministry of Rural Development.

Q6. eSARAS has integrated with which digital commerce network?

a) GeM
b) ONDC
c) IRCTC
d) BharatNet
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).

Q7. UMANG is best described as:

a) A payments bank
b) A government mobile platform for public services
c) A stock exchange
d) A postal service
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) A government mobile platform for public services.

Q8. Chanderi sarees featured on eSARAS are from which state?

a) Rajasthan
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Gujarat
d) Bihar
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh.

Q9. Pashmina products on eSARAS come from:

a) Himachal Pradesh
b) Jammu and Kashmir
c) Uttarakhand
d) Sikkim
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Jammu and Kashmir.

Q10. The permanent SARAS Aajeevika Gallery is located at:

a) Connaught Place
b) Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi
c) India Gate
d) Pragati Maidan
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi.

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