GS3 – Economy
Context
India’s gig economy is rapidly expanding, providing both convenience and employment opportunities, but raising serious questions about job security, income inequality, and workers’ rights.
Key Highlights
- Reports & Projections:
- NITI Aayog (2022) projects India’s gig workforce to grow from 7.7 million (2020–21) to 23.5 million by 2029–30.
- India’s digital economy is expected to touch $1 trillion in the next 5 years, fueled by e-commerce growth.
- Scholarly Perspectives:
- Amitava Ghosh (2020): Gig work provides flexibility and aligns with the preferences of Gen X, Y, and Z.
- Pradip Ninan Thomas (2025): Analyses the dynamics among entrepreneurs, states, and platforms in shaping gig work.
- Opportunities:
- Expands job opportunities for urban youth and women.
- Supports innovative services in logistics, delivery, and mobility.
- Provides flexibility and work-life balance for those rejecting rigid 9-to-5 jobs.
- Challenges:
- Precarity & exploitation: Absence of job security, healthcare, and social protection.
- Corporate dominance: Platform providers extract high commissions, squeezing worker incomes.
- Income disparity: Benefits tilt towards consumers and corporations, while gig workers face unstable earnings.
- Social impact: Decline in human connection as instant gratification drives consumer culture.