UPSC & GPSC · Current Affairs

eSARAS: Expanding Markets, Empowering Rural Women

Source: PIB Delhi

eSARAS: Expanding Markets, Empowering Rural Women

What’s in News

The Government highlighted the growing role of eSARAS, a digital marketplace connecting rural women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with national and global consumers, developed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Key Facts

  • Developed by the Ministry of Rural Development under DAY-NRLM, eSARAS exclusively markets products made by women SHGs and producer groups across categories such as home decor, apparel, food products, handicrafts, and personal care.
  • 8.99 lakh SHGs are registered under the NRLM ecosystem, with over 1,400 products listed on the platform.
  • The platform is integrated with ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) and serves buyers through 11+ e-commerce channels, supported by a mobile app, fulfilment centres, and logistics integration.

Static Information

  • DAY-NRLM was launched in 2011 under the Ministry of Rural Development to reduce rural poverty through self-employment, financial inclusion, and women’s collectivisation, organising rural poor households into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of usually 10-20 women members.
  • ONDC is an initiative of the DPIIT, launched in 2022, designed to democratize digital commerce through an open, interoperable network.
  • The Lakhpati Didi Initiative aims to enable SHG women to earn ₹1 lakh or more annually through sustainable livelihoods.
Consider the following statements regarding eSARAS:
1. It is a digital marketplace exclusively for products made by women Self-Help Groups.
2. It operates under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
3. It has been integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D) 1, 2 and 3

All three statements are correct – eSARAS is exclusively for women SHG products, operates under DAY-NRLM, and is integrated with ONDC.

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