NITI AAYOG GIG WORKER PROJECTION
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.
Health Ministry showcases 24 programmes at India International Trade Fair
The Union Health Ministry showcased 24 health programmes at the 45th India International Trade Fair in New Delhi. The Health Pavilion, themed 'Yuva Bharat, Swasth Bharat', aimed to promote preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles. Awareness on non-communicable diseases and lifestyle-related conditions was emphasized during the event. Various interactive activities, including CPR demonstrations and screenings, were offered to visitors. The pavilion will remain open until November 27 for public participation.
Battery PLI scheme achieves just 1.4 GWh capacity against 50 GWh target, faces delays: NITI Aayog report
The report, titled "Impact Assessment of PLI Schemes", prepared by NITI Aayog in collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad, said the Rs 18,100 crore scheme has witnessed slower-than-expected progress due to technological limitations, dependence on imports and delays in setting up manufacturing facilities.
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.
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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.
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.
India not fully food secure, imports over 50% edible oil: NITI Aayog Vice-chairman
India's reliance on imported edible oils and pulses raises concerns about its food security. NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri highlighted the need for improved agricultural practices. While India is a major producer and consumer of pulses, it still imports substantial quantities. Lahiri advocated diversifying crops to reduce dependence on wheat and paddy cultivation. Addressing supply risks and eliminating wastage in agriculture is essential for future food security.
India's PLI schemes meet 76% investment target but create just 28% of promised jobs
Despite significant investments under the production-linked incentive scheme, India is falling short of its job creation ambitions. With 76% of targeted investments realized, job generation lags at a mere 28%. The government aims to bolster the manufacturing sector and attract foreign firms, yet the persistent youth unemployment poses a daunting obstacle. This gap between manufacturing gains and actual employment opportunities underscores the ongoing struggle within India's economy.
AI's biggest risk lies in concentration of capital and power, warns NITI Aayog's Debjani Ghosh
Debjani Ghosh highlighted the systemic risks posed by the concentration of funding in the AI sector. She warned that circular financing complicates the ability to discern genuine market demand. Ghosh emphasised the importance of fostering a competitive and diverse AI ecosystem to promote resilience.
CAG widens audit net to assess outcomes of govt schemes, urban mobility
The Comptroller and Auditor General is conducting cross-ministry audits to assess outcomes in areas such as ease of doing business, logistics, education and urban mobility. The reports, covering schemes implemented between 2021 and 2026, will offer recommendations to improve delivery. The auditor is also examining DISCOMs' financial and operational performance and developing in-house AI tools to assist audit work.
PLI schemes achieve 76% of investment target, 64% of production goal: Niti Aayog
The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has achieved 76% of its investment target and 64% of its production target, with electronics, telecom and pharmaceuticals emerging as strong performers, Niti Aayog said. As of March 2026, the scheme had attracted ₹2.40 lakh crore in investments, generated production worth ₹22.66 lakh crore and created over 8.49 lakh jobs.
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.
India remains a ‘shining star’ despite global gloom, says NITI Aayog VC
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri highlighted India's impressive economic growth amid a challenging global environment. The Indian economy grew by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY27, which is significant. Additionally, the World Bank has raised India's GDP growth forecast to 7.1% for the current fiscal year. Lahiri emphasized the need for increased domestic production of edible oils and pulses.
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.
Fairfax's Rs 52,878-crore IDBI Bank deal sets stage for a financial services powerhouse
Fairfax Financial Holdings has successfully acquired a controlling stake in IDBI Bank for Rs 52,878 crore. The investment aims to redefine IDBI Bank as a comprehensive financial services provider in India and abroad. Fairfax plans to integrate its existing insurance and capital market businesses into IDBI Bank to enhance its offerings. The acquisition reflects Fairfax's strategy of leveraging IDBI Bank's infrastructure for greater market competitiveness.
India needs suitable evaluation matrix for awarding exploration and mining projects: NITI CEO
NITI Aayog CEO Anurag Jain underscored the development of an evaluation matrix for gold mining projects. The focus is on promoting technical competence and sustainable development of gold resources in India. Discussions revolved around improving geological data and regulatory approvals within the mining sector. The meeting also addressed the country's growing dependence on gold imports and limited exploration efforts.
No More Zeroes: Govt plans to extend ZED certification scheme to services sector MSMEs
In a significant move, the Indian government is widening its Zero Defect Zero Effect certification initiative to include service enterprises in the MSME sector. This strategy will target key industries like transport, hospitality, and healthcare with approximately 20 predefined quality metrics. Furthermore, specialized standards for MSME exporters will ensure they meet global quality benchmarks, ultimately empowering these businesses in the international marketplace.
Care comes at a cost: India's ageing population exposes a broken caregiving system
India's rapidly ageing population is driving demand for caregivers, but the sector faces a shortage of trained workers, low wages, poor working conditions and uneven recruitment standards. High costs burden families, while inadequate training and job security undermine care quality. Experts call for professional recognition, better pay and structured training.
AISTA seeks 35% hike in minimum selling price of sugar to Rs 42/kg , backs government cane FRP
AISTA has urged the government to raise the minimum selling price of sugar amid ongoing protests by farmers. The association supports the current fair and remunerative price for sugarcane set for the 2026-27 season. Stakeholders had previously accepted this price, according to AISTA Chairman Praful Vithalani. Additionally, they have proposed a new payment system for farmers and seek loan relief for ethanol projects.
PM Modi asks new NITI Aayog team to craft ideas to improve lives of India's poorest
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the new NITI Aayog leadership to develop transformative ideas to improve the ease of living for marginalised people while advancing India's long-term development goals. He called for greater collaboration with research institutions and state governments, and urged officials to assess conditions on the ground.
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.
Tamil Nadu has highest patents and research publication in 2024-25 in NITI Aayog’s India S&T Scoreboard
The NITI Aayog’s India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard, launched on Tuesday, provides a comprehensive picture of India’s science and technology ecosystem through key indicators, including research and development expenditure, scientific publications, citations, patent applications and technological innovation.
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.
Solar module cos seek more time to comply with local sourcing
Solar module manufacturers in India are raising concerns about the local availability of cells for production. They have requested an extension of the sourcing deadline beyond January 2024 to address these issues. The Renewable Energy Manufacturers Association has highlighted a significant gap between module production capacity and cell supply. Current regulations mandate that solar cells must come from approved local manufacturers for projects.
Gig workers get a seat at the table as Centre notifies social security boards
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers and gig workers. This board will enable the implementation of welfare schemes designed to address social security gaps. It will include representatives from government, companies, and civil society to ensure diverse input. The board is expected to meet regularly to discuss policies affecting these workers.
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