Over the past two decades, the global labor market has witnessed a structural transformation, driven by digitalization, globalization, and socio-economic shifts. In this context, the gig economy and freelancing culture have emerged as significant employment avenues, particularly in India. Characterized by flexible, task-based, and platform-mediated work arrangements, gig work has rapidly expanded beyond conventional services into skilled, digital, and knowledge-based sectors. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review analyzing recent trends, socio-economic implications, and regulatory responses associated with India’s growing gig and freelancing economy. Drawing on academic research, government reports, and industry publications from the last decade, the study examines conceptual frameworks, profiles of Indian gig workers, platform influences, and evolution of labor regulations. Findings suggest that while the gig economy offers employment flexibility and income opportunities, it also exposes workers to precarious conditions, income instability, and inadequate social security. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this shift, amplifying both opportunities and systemic vulnerabilities. Although policy initiatives, such as, the Code on Social Security (2020) acknowledge these issues, significant gaps remain in welfare provision and regulatory clarity. The paper concludes with recommendations for inclusive policy reforms, multi-stakeholder governance, and future research directions focusing on gendered experiences, digital labor relations, and long-term worker welfare in India’s gig economy.
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