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Tuesday, February 3, 2026
TopicFormal and informal sector

Topic: Formal and informal sector

India’s informal sector continues to grow even as govt claims higher formalisation, new data shows

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.

Real wages grew just 0.01% over the last 5 years and contracted in Haryana & UP, Ind-Ra report finds

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.

54 lakh informal jobs lost, stagnant worker output — how DeMo, GST & COVID hit India’s manufacturing

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.

‘India can see China-like economic success without sacrificing democracy,’ says TeamLease vice-chairman

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.

What reports on Indian women’s falling participation in labour force don’t tell you

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.

How India’s informal economy is shrinking, and why that’s good news in the long term

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.

More young urban Indian men appear to be studying longer, not looking for jobs: New research

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.

Economists must stop looking at rural India as just labour supply tool post Covid: Yunus

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.

Don’t let your dislike of Yogi Adityanath get in the way. Labour reform is a good idea

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.

To get more women in labour force, India must stop pushing industrial areas to city limits

It is essential for cities to recognise that urban neighbourhoods are not just residential areas, and develop amenities for both work and living.

On Camera

The era of critical-minerals shortages is behind us. Era of gluts about to dawn

Size of Trump’s new $12 bn 'Project Vault' stockpile goes well beyond the wildest expectations, or indeed needs, of the critical minerals sector.

Floundering PM Internship Scheme has seen 44% drop out since 2024 launch. Budget deals drastic blow

Only 21 percent of interns complete programme as Centre slashes budget by over 50% after poor joining and high attrition.

Defence budget through the years: Big leap for 2026-27, but what numbers since 1999 reveal

ThePrint’s analysis of all budgets from 1999-2026 shows that the capex as total share of defence budget was the highest under UPA I & II. Multifold jump in pension outlays.

Swiss report should now close Op Sindoor debate. Knowing when to stop the fight is key too

The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military.