India’s gig economy is expanding rapidly, with 7.7 million workers recorded in 2020–21 and projected to reach 23.5 million by 2029–30. Recognizing this shift, the Indian government introduced the Code on Social Security, 2020, to provide legal recognition and social security benefits to gig and platform workers. The Union Budget 2025–26 has further strengthened these measures, including unique identity cards and healthcare access. However, challenges remain, with the Supreme Court urging the government to expedite implementation.
India’s gig economy is experiencing remarkable growth, with 7.7 million workers engaged in gig jobs in 2020–21, a number expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029–30, according to the Economic Survey 2023–24. The government has taken significant steps to provide social security for these workers, but delays in implementation remain a concern.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), India’s largest labour organisation, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been advocating for gig workers’ rights. The Modi government introduced the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS, 2020) to define and regulate gig and platform workers, ensuring social security benefits for those working outside traditional employer-employee relationships.
The Union Budget 2025–26 introduced key initiatives, including unique identity cards for gig workers, integration with the e-Shram portal, and access to healthcare under PM Jan Arogya Yojana. These steps aim to formalize gig employment and provide much-needed welfare measures.
The Supreme Court recently intervened in the matter, hearing a petition filed by the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan urged the government to speed up the implementation of the Social Security Code. As of February, 32 states and union territories had drafted rules for its enforcement, but a concrete timeline for full implementation is still awaited.
In 2022, the Dattopant Thengadi Foundation, a BMS-affiliated think tank, highlighted the harsh working conditions gig workers face, including lack of minimum wage protections and job security. While companies such as Urban Company, Zomato, Blinkit, and Uncle Delivery have begun registering on the government’s e-Shram portal, worker protections remain a pressing issue.
As India’s gig economy continues to grow, bridging policy gaps and ensuring timely execution of social security measures will be crucial in safeguarding the rights and welfare of millions of platform-based workers.
