Mumbai/Bengaluru, Jan. 29 -- India's fast-growing gig economy is creating jobs at scale, but workers continue to face unstable incomes, weak access to formal credit and rising risks from algorithm-driven platforms, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26.

While the sector is expanding rapidly, the survey said that 'income volatility persists, leading to challenges in accessing credit.' Most gig workers remain financially invisible to lenders due to 'thin file' credit histories, even as platform aggregators have introduced some changes to improve onboarding and payments.

India's gig economy has grown from 7.7 million workers in fiscal year 2021 (FY21) to 12 million in FY25, a 55% jump in the last four years. The gig workforce now accoun...