ESI Scheme – State-wise Implementation Status

The recent notification provides a clear state-wise picture of how the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme is currently implemented across districts in India. As per Notification No. N-15015/1/2023-P&D dated 09 April 2026, districts have been classified based on their level of ESI coverage. At present, 635 districts are fully notified, which means the ESI Scheme is completely applicable in these areas. A further 93 districts are partially notified, where coverage has been introduced in a limited or phased manner, usually depending on specific locations or types of establishments. Additionally, 51 districts are still not notified, and the ESI Scheme is not yet applicable there. What this essentially shows is that most industrialised and urban regions are now well covered under ESI, ensuring employees in these areas have access to medical and social security benefits. At the same time, remote and less developed regions are still catching up, largely due to practical challenges like infrastructure and administrative reach. From a compliance perspective, this update is quite important for employers. If you are operating in multiple locations, it becomes critical to check whether your specific district is fully or partially notified. In partially notified areas, applicability can vary, so a blanket assumption may lead to non-compliance. Also, businesses should remain alert because districts that are currently not notified may be brought under ESI at any time, and once notified, compliance obligations will apply immediately. In short, the direction is clear — ESI coverage is steadily expanding, and organisations should proactively align their compliance processes rather than waiting for last-minute changes.