LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT: NCAER Gig Economy Initiative

NCAER launched a new NCAER research programme on the “Gig Economy”.  The proposed programme seeks to holistically analyse the socio-economic impact of the platform economy in India. The research programme is divided into two phases. In the first phase, we will study the food delivery sector including delivery partners, restaurants and platform providers. In the second phase, we plan to assess the impact of platforms’ adoption on firms especially on its workers. Further, we plan to estimate the direct and indirect jobs created by platform economy in India. The research programme will be overseen by the NCAER Research Advisory Panel, including Shashanka Bhide,  Sonalde Desai, G.C. Manna, Sudipto Mundle (chair),  Arunkumar Pillai,  RCM Reddy, and  Sehraj Singh. This research programme is supported by Prosus.

The launch programme held on December 7, 2021, included a panel discussion on Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities moderator by  Sudipto Mundle. The Panellists included Anna Roy, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog.

RCM Reddy, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Schoolnet India Limited, Varun Khaitan, Co-Founder, Urban Company and Sonalde Desai, Professor and Director, NCAER-National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC).  Bornali Bhandari from NCAER presented an overview of the NCAER Gig Economy initiative. The launch and the keynote address was delivered by Sunil Barthwal, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment.