India’s rapid-delivery apps have transformed everyday life in its biggest cities, promising almost anything at your doorstep in 10 minutes or less. But behind the convenience lies a fast-growing gig economy that is reshaping jobs, wages and expectations for millions of young Indians. Supriya Kumar and Sacha Desmaizières report.
In 2025, urban youth unemployment stood at 13.6%, far above the national average of 3.1%, pushing many young people into platform-based work for lack of alternatives.
The rise of instant delivery has become one of the clearest symbols of India’s new consumer economy, where speed is marketed as a service. But it also raises deeper questions about the quality of the jobs being created – and who is really paying the price for that convenience.
