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Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicInformal sector

Topic: informal sector

Welfare in India was born in crisis—UK professor’s book traces its evolution

The panel on Louise Tillin’s book featured economist Jean Drèze, former CPR CEO Yamini Aiyar, HT editor Roshan Kishore, and political scientist Niraja Gopal Jayal.

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.

Flaws of India’s welfare system are visible in our fight against Covid-19

The current welfare system cannot deal with the Covid-19 crisis. It is required to move to a demand-based system of relief and welfare.

Small pharmacies to private GPs: India must engage informal economies in fighting coronavirus

Indian cities have shown resilience in overcoming challenges. Yet, resilience has not always resulted in improving urban governance and improving lives of urban poor.

Why fixing unorganised sector can be Modi’s biggest Covid-19 economic challenge

As millions are reduced to subsistence living consumption is set to spiral lower, weighing on a sector that makes up 60% of India’s economy.

Modi govt needs to stop claiming it lacks data on the informal sector, it doesn’t

Every problem in the labour market can’t be attributed to the lack of data. It’s become a predictable and false diversion.

Modi mapping invisible jobs to help measure India’s real growth

For the first time, the government's labour survey will include the country's vast informal sector, but not everyone is convinced it'll signal creation of new jobs.

A photo on Delhi Metro sparked a debate on domestic help. Now pass a law to protect them

The Modi government’s new labour code would include domestic workers. But, with the general election coming up in 2019, it is not likely that BJP will be willing to push through such a major change.

On Camera

India can sell its vision, but it can’t spectacle its way to AI power

The challenge of translating the AI wave into livelihoods is a bigger governing test for PM Modi than collecting selfies with Silicon Valley’s elite.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.