Gig Economy: India's 'Third Pillar' of Livelihood, Swiggy Paid Rs 5,000 Cr to Partners

• Swiggy's Rohit Kapoor stated at Davos 2026 that India's gig economy is now the 'third pillar' of livelihood, alongside formal jobs and entrepreneurship.
• Food delivery platforms, including Swiggy, paid over Rs 5,000 crore to delivery partners last year, highlighting the sector's significant income generation.
• Kapoor welcomed formalization of gig work but cautioned against equating it with traditional salaried employment due to its flexible nature.
• Delivery partner earnings are primarily driven by base payouts, incentives, and order density, with tipping playing a limited role.
• Future growth in food delivery will focus on affordability and encouraging first-time users, rather than expanding into new cities, as growth has moderated.

Why It Matters: India's gig economy is a major livelihood source, with Swiggy alone paying Rs 5,000 Cr to partners.