URBAN ECONOMY 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.
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.
Andhra Pradesh plans Visakhapatnam entertainment hub, Rana Daggubati to partner with state
Visakhapatnam is set to develop as a center for films, digital content, and gaming in Andhra Pradesh. Actor-producer Rana Daggubati has pledged to collaborate with the state government on this initiative. Minister Nara Lokesh emphasized the importance of creating a complete ecosystem for the entertainment industry. The plan includes building infrastructure for studios, production, and post-production facilities.
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.
Fed's Jefferson says he is taking his policy cues from inflation
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson emphasized inflation as the main factor in determining monetary policy. He highlighted that economic growth and a stable labor market have been observed. Jefferson indicated that upcoming adjustments to policy should rely on data trends and the evolving economic outlook. Concerns about artificial intelligence displacing workers were also mentioned in his remarks.
Social Security could have lasted until 2059, so where did $10.8 trillion go? AARP reveals the income shift behind its 2034 funding crisis
Social Security's funding crisis may have arrived decades earlier because a smaller share of American income is subject to payroll taxes. AARP estimates the programme could have paid full benefits until 2059 if taxable wages had maintained their 1980s share of the economy. The actual trust fund depletion projections remain 2032 and 2034.
91-year-old woman talks to her TV after husband's death as she had nobody else; hires temporary children who visit her home and keep her company
After her husband's death, 91-year-old Yang became so lonely that she started talking to her television for company and even considered voluntary euthanasia. Now, a team of paid companions visits her Beijing home twice a day with hot meals, household help and conversation, as China's companionship industry expands.
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.
MeitY flags physical AI data; US data centre woes may help India
Happy Friday! MeitY is examining how home services platforms collect household data to train physical AI models.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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.
Lights, camera... microdrama! Big showmen hooked on new gig in town
India's microdrama industry is experiencing significant growth, attracting investments from major entertainment companies and creators. Aamir Khan Productions and Excel Entertainment are launching a microdrama venture to produce high-quality content. Partnerships with creators and telecom companies will enhance the platform's offerings as the market expands. Despite challenges in monetization and audience retention, viewership for microdramas continues to rise steadily.
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.
India's unemployment rate falls to 5.1% in July-September as rural joblessness declines
India's unemployment rate saw a decline to 5.1% from 5.4% in the prior quarter. The decrease in unemployment primarily occurred in rural areas, where it fell to 4.3%. The survey indicated that more individuals were either working or seeking jobs during this period. Women's employment participation also improved, rising to 34.7% from 33.2%. The overall employment figure reached approximately 57.9 crore individuals in India.
Canada makes rural immigration programme permanent, sets aside 5,500 admission spaces
Canada has made its Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent programme, setting aside 5,500 admission spaces under its 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan. Announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab on November 9, the initiative aims to help rural and smaller communities recruit skilled foreign workers to fill vacancies that cannot be met locally.
US jobs market shows broad-based recovery in October as hiring beats estimates
US employers added 165,000 jobs in October, far exceeding expectations, while unemployment fell to 4.1%. However, a closer look reveals uneven labour market trends, with foreign-born workers driving gains, manufacturing recovering and job seekers facing longer unemployment spells.
Offline Aadhaar verification to get easier for users as UIDAI onboards 300 entities to complete process
UIDAI has successfully onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities since the launch in January 2026. This initiative aims to enhance Aadhaar-based offline verification across various sectors including healthcare, education, and hospitality. Users can now complete identity checks without submitting physical copies of their Aadhaar cards.
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.
Peppermint Robotics raises Rs 100 crore led by pi Ventures, Crane Venture Partners
The company was founded in 2019 by Runal Dahiwade, and has raised Rs 150 crore to date. It also develops autonomous robots for material transportation and operates in nine countries. The US is its largest market, followed by India and western Europe, Dahiwade, who’s also the CEO, told ET.
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.
Make urban legend real: Our cities must become far more business-friendly for India to achieve high per-capita income
India's urban population has grown slowly, with a significant portion living in small rural habitations. The country requires substantial rural-urban migration to boost urbanisation and economic productivity. Urban centres must create favorable business environments to attract new and expanding enterprises. State governments should implement measures to alleviate urban land scarcity and improve labor regulations.
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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