ESI Scheme 2026 guidelines are available to download in PDF format at the official website esic.gov.in. Employees State Insurance Scheme of India is designed to protect employees against incidences of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to insured persons and their families. The scheme is run by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
ESI Scheme 2026 covers over 13.5 crore insured workers and their families across organised sector establishments. It is a contributory social security scheme, which means both the employer and the employee pay a small share of the wages into the fund. In return, the insured person and the family get free medical care and cash benefits during sickness, maternity and disablement.
Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme 2026
The ESI Scheme applies to factories and other establishments such as road transport, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, newspaper, shops, and educational or medical institutions where 10 or more persons are employed. In some states the threshold limit for coverage of establishments is still 20. Employees of these factories and establishments, drawing wages up to Rs.21,000 a month, are entitled to social security cover under the ESI Act, 1948. For employees with disabilities, the wage ceiling is Rs. 25,000 a month.
The wage ceiling was earlier Rs. 15,000 a month, and it has now been raised to Rs. 21,000 for general employees. The government is also considering a further raise to Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000, but no official notification has been issued yet. The latest updates are always posted on the official website esic.gov.in.
ESI Contribution Rate 2026
The total ESI contribution is 4% of the gross wages of the employee. The employer contributes 3.25% and the employee contributes 0.75% of the eligible wages. For an employee earning Rs. 18,000 a month, the employee share comes to Rs. 135 and the employer share comes to Rs. 585, making a total of Rs. 720 a month.
Employees whose daily average wage is Rs. 176 or less are exempt from paying their own contribution, but the employer still pays the employer share and the coverage remains intact. Contributions are due by the 15th of the following month. Late payment attracts 12% interest per year plus damages up to 25% of the arrears.
Benefits Under ESI Scheme 2026
ESI Scheme 2026 gives a wide range of benefits to insured employees and their families. Medical care starts from the very first day of employment with no waiting period. The insured person and the family, including spouse, children and dependent parents, get free treatment at ESIC hospitals, dispensaries and empanelled private facilities.
- Medical benefit: From the first day of insured employment, the employee and the family get free OPD, hospitalisation, surgeries, diagnostics, medicines and super-specialty care at ESIC hospitals and empanelled facilities.
- Sickness benefit: A certified illness by an ESIC medical officer gives 70% of wages for up to 91 days in a year. For 34 listed long-term illnesses such as TB, cancer and mental illness, the extended sickness benefit pays 80% of wages for up to two years.
- Maternity benefit: A woman employee who has contributed for at least 70 days in the two preceding contribution periods gets 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave at 100% of her wages for up to two surviving children. A medical bonus of Rs. 5,000 is also available.
Disablement benefit gives 90% of wages from the first day of an employment injury with no minimum contribution required, and continues until the disablement ends. Permanent disablement gives 90% of wages monthly for life, based on the degree of disability assessed by the ESIC medical board. If an insured employee dies from an employment injury, the dependants get a monthly pension equal to 90% of the wages.
ESI Scheme 2026 Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme |
| Run By | Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) |
| Wage Ceiling | Rs. 21,000 a month (general), Rs. 25,000 (disabled) |
| Employee Contribution | 0.75% of wages |
| Employer Contribution | 3.25% of wages |
| Medical Benefit | From day one of employment |
| Maternity Leave | 26 weeks at full wages |
| Official Website | esic.gov.in |
How to Apply for ESI Scheme 2026
Employees do not need to apply separately for the ESI Scheme. The employer registers the establishment and the employees with the ESIC. The steps are given below.
STEP 1 - The employer registers the establishment on the official ESIC portal at esic.gov.in within 15 days of crossing the employee threshold.
STEP 2 - The employer registers each covered employee and issues the Pehchan (IP) card to the employee.
STEP 3 - The employee uses the Pehchan card to get free medical treatment at any ESIC dispensary or empanelled hospital.
STEP 4 - For cash benefits such as maternity, sickness or disablement, the employee submits the required form through the employer or the ESIC portal employee login.
Documents Required for ESI Scheme 2026
To get the benefits under the ESI scheme, the employee needs a few basic documents. The list is given below.
- Pehchan (IP) card: This is the main identity card issued by the ESIC to the insured employee.
- Aadhaar card: Needed for identity proof and for linking the bank account for benefit payment.
- Bank account details: The cash benefits are paid directly to the registered bank account of the employee.
FAQ's
What is the ESI wage ceiling in 2026?
The wage ceiling is Rs. 21,000 a month for general employees and Rs. 25,000 a month for employees with disabilities. A further raise is under consideration but not yet notified.
When does ESI medical coverage begin?
ESI medical coverage begins from the very first day of insured employment with no waiting period.
How much maternity benefit is given under ESI?
A woman employee gets full wages for 26 weeks for up to two surviving children. The minimum contribution is 70 days in the two preceding contribution periods.
Can an employee claim ESI if the employer has not registered?
The employer is legally required to register. The employee can file a complaint with the regional ESIC office, and the employer remains liable for the contributions.
For the latest ESI Scheme 2026 guidelines, circulars and notifications, visit the official website at esic.gov.in. Eligible workers can also check related schemes like e-Shram Card registration and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana for additional social security support.
