DRAFT RULES FOR GIG WORKERS
Andhra Pradesh inks 9 MoUs for Rs 4,100 crore space-defence push
At the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on 12-13 November 2026, the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed nine MoUs covering rocket engines and test beds, satellites, missiles, explosives, aerospace manufacturing, flight training and heliports. Eight of them propose investments totalling Rs 4,100 crore and 6,865 direct jobs on about 1,472 acres in Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Nellore and Visakhapatnam. The ninth is a five-year strategic partnership with Pawan Hans to develop and operate heliports across the State.
No comment on personal life: TDP & YSR Congress to party workers
In Andhra Pradesh, both the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSR Congress have issued advisories urging party members to refrain from discussing the personal lives of political opponents. This initiative followed an incident involving state Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's marital issues, aimed at maintaining respect and discretion in public discourse. However, the peace was soon disrupted by derogatory comments from some Jana Sena supporters regarding Jagan Mohan Reddy's family.
Telangana implements gig worker rules, mandates minimum pay, social security benefits
The Telangana government has launched the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Rules, which establish rights for gig workers. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy introduced the legislation during a ceremony with Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad. The new rules include provisions for social security benefits, minimum remuneration, and protection against arbitrary account deactivation. Shaik Salauddin from the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union emphasized the need for effective implementation of these rights.
Rahul Gandhi calls out ‘fascists’ at Bharat Summit, launches Telangana gig workers’ welfare scheme
Addressing the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, Gandhi hit out at what he termed "fascists" in business, academia, and politics, asserting that they tend to scream and refuse to listen while the humble majority remains quieter.
Telangana to provide gig workers Rs 5 lakh accident cover, Rs 10 lakh health insurance: Rahul Gandhi
Telangana has announced a new welfare scheme aimed at supporting gig workers in the state. The initiative includes accident insurance amounting to Rs 5 lakh and health insurance of Rs 10 lakh. Workers will receive 1% of each transaction for their deliveries directly into their bank accounts. This payment will be facilitated through a dedicated gig workers' board.
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Congress believes in making workers partners, will stand by gig workers: Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad
Congress and Telangana government have launched the Gig Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Scheme in Hyderabad. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of data rights for gig workers during the event. He noted that workers currently lack access to their work-related information from digital platforms. Additionally, he addressed the challenging working conditions faced by gig workers while promising improvements.
Madhya Pradesh adds 8.19 lakh voters since final SIR roll, electorate rises to 5.48 crore
Madhya Pradesh has added 8.19 lakh voters in the draft electoral roll under the Special Summary Revision. This increase has resulted in a total electorate of nearly 5.48 crore voters in the state. The Electoral Commission has invited claims and objections until December 11, with the final roll to be published on January 4, 2027. The age group of 30-39 represents the highest number of voters among the registered electors.
Delhi Police plans new rules for Ramlila Ground gatherings: What organisers should know
Delhi Police has proposed a 50,000-person limit and a 10 am to 5 pm time window for protests, demonstrations and public gatherings at Ramlila Ground. The draft SOP also outlines requirements for MCD clearance, advance police permission, traffic management, security checks and public facilities. The guidelines are awaiting approval from Delhi Police Headquarters.
Brazil gives workers their lives back; India gives more work
Brazil has implemented a constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours. This change aims to enhance the work-life balance for over 30 million workers. In contrast, Indian employees often endure extended hours and find it challenging to disconnect from work. The shift in Brazil raises questions about work culture in India and employee well-being.
Milk, curd and paneer packs to look different soon: Food regulator FSSAI orders dairy manufacturers to add new logo across products
FSSAI has mandated a new blue-and-white droplet logo on all milk and milk products, including milk, curd and paneer, from July 1, 2028. The standardised symbol, featuring a white droplet inside a blue square, aims to help consumers identify dairy products more easily and bring uniformity to food labelling. The new rules also prescribe logo sizes based on packaging dimensions.
Rent-a-Cab rules eased, fleet can have just five cars
The government believes lowering the threshold will encourage small entrepreneurs, startups and local operators to enter the market. Existing operators will also be able to expand into new locations using a smaller fleet of just five cars. The proposals are part of the draft Rent-a-Cab Scheme 2026, which is set to replace the country's 37-year-old regulatory framework from 1989.
MeitY examines data collection by home services platforms for physical AI training
The consultation comes amid growing interest among AI and robotics developers in first-person video and sensor data, which can help train machines to understand and replicate human actions in real-world environments. Such recordings capture how people perform routine activities, providing training inputs for robots designed to undertake physical tasks.
Noah Kahan Last of the Bugs World Tour 2027: Who is Noah Kahan? Here's complete schedule with 31 shows
Noah Kahan has announced his Last of the Bugs World Tour 2027 a few days back. The shows will be held in North America, Europe and the UK. Around 31 shows will be organized in total. The tour comes after his fourth album The Great Divide charted at number one on the Billboard 200.
MeitY probes physical AI data use; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns
MeitY is reviewing the practice of collecting first-person video and sensor data from gig workers to train physical AI models. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
US proposes tougher H-1B visa extension scrutiny and over 2 lakh foreign worker petitions could be affected annually
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed removing a rule that requires immigration officers to give weight to previous approvals when reviewing certain work visa extension applications. The change could affect around 208,429 petitions annually, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E visa categories. If finalised, the proposal would allow USCIS officers to reassess applications even when workers remain with the same employer in unchanged roles.
Meta, TikTok join Google to push back on Indonesia's planned AI copyright law revisions
If the bill is passed, Indonesia could become the first country in Southeast Asia to incorporate AI in its copyright law, as governments globally grapple with the impact of the technology on copyright rules, including the use of work created by humans to train AI models.
EU threatens significant fines for unfair online trade practices
The European Commission is proposing a new Digital Fairness Act aimed at enhancing consumer rights. This legislation will impose fines on companies engaging in unfair practices such as deceptive advertising targeted at children. It seeks to ban dark patterns and other misleading digital strategies that cost consumers significantly. Companies will need to comply with these new rules to avoid substantial penalties.
US H-1B grace period proposal draws 31,383 comments as job-loss concerns grow
A Trump administration proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period that allows laid-off H-1B visa holders to find new jobs in the United States has drawn more than 31,000 public comments, as the deadline for submissions approached.
EU to make addictive app features easier to switch off
The European Union will on Wednesday unveil new rules to crack down on influencer marketing, ban online features that trick Europeans and force platforms to give users the right to turn off "addictive" features.
H-1B visas in focus :IBM to end green card sponsorship for roles in biggest unit
IBM is ending H-1B visa and green card sponsorship for most roles in its consulting division, its largest business unit with more than 150,000 employees, amid the Trump administration's crackdown on the visa programme. Affected employees can continue working for the company outside the US or leave by the end of the year, according to an internal document seen by Bloomberg.
From free internet upgrades to sneakers: The brands cashing in on GTA 6 before it even launches
Grand Theft Auto VI is set for release on November 19, 2026, and pre-loading begins on November 10. Internet providers like Spectrum and Xfinity are offering free speed upgrades to facilitate quicker downloads. Nike is reportedly collaborating with Travis Scott and Rockstar Games to launch a special sneaker collection for the game. The collection may feature three Air Force 1 Low sneakers priced at $130 each.
France eases job-loss rules for foreign workers, cuts residence permit processing time
France has introduced significant immigration changes from October 30, 2026, giving foreign workers more time to find new jobs after unemployment and reducing residence permit processing timelines. Under the revised rules, Temporary Worker permit holders get three months to secure new employment, while EU Blue Card holders get six months without immediately losing their residence status.
Oman tightens expat worker recruitment rules from January 2027; agencies must provide insurance, refunds
Effective January 1, 2027, Oman is set to enforce new, tougher rules for hiring expatriate workers, which will necessitate insurance coverage and adherence to recruitment timelines. Recruitment agencies will shoulder increased financial duties, including the possibility of refunds for employers.
Lenskart, Nykaa, PhysicsWallah see Q2 profits surge
New-age companies Nykaa, Lenskart, and PhysicsWallah reported strong numbers for the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Gig workers may get social security benefits through 2% transaction levy on businesses
The government is considering implementing a 2% transaction-based levy on aggregators to support social security for gig workers. This levy will fund benefits such as insurance, health, and maternity support for over 12 million workers. There is a consensus that this approach ensures fairness among different types of aggregators. The new scheme is expected to be launched in 2027, requiring gig workers to meet specific work criteria.
ETtech Explainer: Food delivery, ride-hailing firms differ on gig worker welfare levy calculation
Food delivery and quick-commerce companies such as Zomato and Swiggy are seeking a levy based on the value of transactions facilitated through their platforms, while cab and bike-taxi aggregators such as Uber and Rapido want it to be calculated on their own turnover rather than the total value of rides facilitated.
Premji's deeptech bets; Razorpay gets IPO nod
Happy Thursday! Premji Invest is stepping up its bets on defence and aerospace manufacturing.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Centre sets up social security board to frame welfare schemes for gig workers
In a significant move, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has initiated the National Social Security Board, designed to improve welfare for unorganised and gig economy workers. This board will advise on the rollout and supervision of important social security programs. Scheduled to meet three times annually, it will also manage policy discussions and oversee the financial aspects of the Social Security Code.
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