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Saturday, January 24, 2026
TopicGig-economy

Topic: Gig-economy

India’s 10-minute delivery model is under pressure

If regulatory diktats nudge consumers to be a little more patient — or force labour to be a little less desperate — the business model breaks down before it turns profitable.

How fast fashion companies, delivery apps are trying to get India’s next billion consumers

Companies are now retooling everything from products and pricing to logistics and content to reach the vast, price-conscious yet aspirational consumer in India’s smaller towns.

Women form about one-fifth of India’s digital workforce, leadership roles a rarity, says LEAD report

The report released at Charcha 2025, an annual gathering of India’s social development sector, found that women remain largely concentrated in low-value and routine roles.

Refine PoSH Act for India’s gig companies. Online businesses have limitations

The liability framework for gig businesses could be aligned with the 'actual knowledge’ standard under section 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000.

Karnataka’s draft bill for gig workers: income security, occupational safety, grievance redressal

Karnataka will be 2nd state after Rajasthan to have legislation for welfare of gig workers. Experts & activists welcome key provisions, including fair terms of contract, mentioned in draft.

85% of platform-based gig workers put in 8 hrs daily but don’t get basic social security — NGO survey

Non-profit's survey of 5,000-plus gig workers engaged with 20-plus platforms finds that these are full-time jobs. Report points to issues of health, income security & lack of regulation.

Govt can’t make gig workers’ welfare all about social security. Choice, flexibility are key

Social security design for platform-based gig workers must be benchmarked against schemes available for the organised and unorganised sectors.

Delhi govt’s newest push toward EVs burdens intermediaries & gig workers. Learn from China

Instead of burdening them with enforcement of State policy, we should be leveraging these intermediaries for their inherent market efficiencies. Norway & China show how.

India’s gig workers need urgent social security. But Gehlot’s new law isn’t the answer

India's experience with Coal Mines Provident Fund and Seamen's Provident Fund should lead us to ask if the idea of a centralised welfare fund is itself problematic, and prone to misuse.

Blinkit deliverymen would rather work for Uber-Ola, run YouTube channels. Dignity comes first

Young delivery executives brave more than just heatwaves and traffic. They also deal with dismissive family members, indifferent employers, hostile guards, and rude customers.

On Camera

Controversial dog-walker IAS Sanjeev Khirwar is back in Delhi. What happened to his wife?

In 2022, athletes claimed they were asked to wind up training early at Thyagraj Stadium so that the IAS couple could walk their dog. Then came the memes and public outrage.

IndiGo profit plunges 78% as Dec meltdown with 3k flight cancellations takes a toll

Net income for InterGlobe Aviation Ltd slipped 78 percent to Rs 5.5 billion for the three months ended Dec 31 compared with the year-ago period.

Rafale saga: 25 yrs of detours, deadlocks & political hesitation. Now IAF getting what it always wanted

Instead of buying more Mirages outright in early 2000s, the requirement was tweaked in favour of a medium-weight, multi-role fighter with Mirage-like performance. 

Pakistan se azaadi. Grow up India, stop giving it prime real estate in your psyche

Pakistan not only has zero chance of catching up with India in most areas, but will inevitably see the gap rising. Its leaders will offer its people the same snake oil in different bottles.