The latest govt survey of the non-agricultural informal sector shows it shrank between 2015-16 and 2021-22, following which it has been growing both in terms of establishments and workers.
India Ratings & Research's report, based on govt data, also points to the deteriorating quality of jobs in the country, including more self-employed and informal workers.
The analysis of two official databases shows that the formal manufacturing sector barely added any jobs since 2015-16, while the informal portion saw job losses.
Manish Sabharwal blames regulatory hurdles, lack of human capital development, and failure to transition from farm to non-farm sectors for India’s slower economic growth compared to China.
Critics analysing World Bank report to claim continuance of patriarchal oppression and structural barriers fail to acknowledge a critical aspect about women's economic participation in India.
Greater formalisation will see a shift from low-paying, labour-intensive jobs in informal sector to more productive, formal-sector jobs. This could lead to disruption in short term.
Researchers looked at 2004-05 NSS data and 2017-18 labour force survey to find men in 20-29 age group in states like Bihar and Jharkhand either take an informal job or remain unemployed.
Now is a good time to integrate the most crucial feature missing in the Indian micro-finance system — running it as a social business, writes Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
A rational labour framework will lead to a larger number of Indian workers enjoying basic protections. Much depends on what the new labour landscape in UP and MP looks like.
Perhaps the present crisis and trauma can force our country into something resembling that special moment we found in the sixties. Perhaps we can radically alter our business environment.
India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
COMMENTS