Q.What is meant by the gig economy? Give two examples of gig work in India.

The gig economy consists of short-term, platform-based work without a fixed employer-employee relationship; examples include app-based ride-hailing drivers and food-delivery riders. …

The gig economy refers to a labour market characterised by short-term, flexible, and often platform-mediated work arrangements — freelance assignments, task-based contracts, and app-based on-demand services — rather than traditional, long-term, employer-based employment. A gig worker is typically engaged through a digital platform for a specific task or a defined period, and is paid per task or assignment rather than a fixed periodic wage or salary.

Two common examples of gig work in India:

1. App-based ride-hailing/taxi drivers — drivers who accept ride requests through a mobile app, working flexible hours without a fixed employer.
2. Food and grocery delivery riders — riders who accept and complete individual delivery tasks assigned through a delivery platform's app. …

Students sometimes describe gig work as simply 'part-time work,' missing the key defining feature — the absence of a fixed, ongoing employer-employee rela …