Freelancing in India - Revision history

Richa7864 at 07:23, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T07:23:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:53, 26 March 2026
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	}}		[[India]] had an estimated 15 million independent workers or freelancers in 2020, with industries like Information Technology, finance, Human Resource and design increasingly hiring people on a project basis.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Majumdar \|first=Debleena \|date=2023-07-24 \|title=Factors that make highly qualified people choose freelance careers over one-off gigs \|work=The Economic Times \|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/mid-career/factors-that-make-highly-qualified-people-choose-freelance-careers-over-one-off-gigs/articleshow/102071660.cms \|access-date=2023-11-06 \|issn=0013-0389}}</ref> 70 percent of freelancers from India reported working exclusively as freelancers, with 48 percent of them dedicating 30 hours or less per week to their work.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2023-06-06 \|title=Gig economy: 66% of freelancers in India optimistic about growing global demand from SMBs, says survey \|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/sme-msme-eodb-66-of-freelancers-in-india-optimistic-about-growing-global-demand-from-smbs-survey-3116027/ \|access-date=2023-11-06 \|website=Financialexpress \|language=en}}</ref> In a report of ''(National Institution for Transforming India)'' [[NITI Aayog]] has estimated that India’s gig workforce or Freelancing will grow to 2.35 [[crore]] by 2029-30. In 2020-21, it was at 77 lakh. Of this 26.6 lakh gig workers were from sales and retail trade.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=2023-11-04 \|title=Freelancing as a Lifestyle: Six tips for gig workers for better work-life balance \|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/freelancing-as-a-lifestyle-six-tips-for-gig-workers-for-better-work-life-balance/articleshow/104972715.cms \|access-date=2024-04-01 \|work=The Economic Times \|issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=2023-11-04 \|title=Freelancing as a Lifestyle: Six tips for gig workers for better work-life balance \|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/freelancing-as-a-lifestyle-six-tips-for-gig-workers-for-better-work-life-balance/articleshow/104972715.cms#:~:text=In%20a%20recent,a%20large%20chunk. \|access-date=2024-04-01 \|work=The Economic Times \|issn=0013-0389}}</ref>
	~~Globally,~~ [[India]] ~~ranks as the 2nd largest~~ freelance ~~workforce after the US with~~ over ~~15 million~~ people working ~~independently~~ in ~~various sectors such as [[Information technology~~\|~~IT]] and~~ [[~~Programming language\|programming~~]]~~, finance, sales and marketing, designing, animation, videography, content and~~ [[~~academic writing~~]]. By 2020, ~~50% of~~ workers ~~are expected to go freelance~~.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~\|url=https://~~timesofindia~~.indiatimes.com/~~business~~/60-of-~~freelancers~~-in-~~india~~-~~are~~-~~under~~-30/articleshow/~~64743696~~.cms\|title=~~Infographic~~: 60% ~~of freelancers in India are under 30~~ - Times of India\|~~website~~=~~The Times of~~ India\|access-date=~~2018~~-11-14}}</ref>
			India’s young workforce is inclining toward [[Freelancer\|freelance]] and contractual opportunities. Possessing one of the world’s highest youngest working populations, India has considered to have significant potential to become the world’s largest freelance [[gig economy]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Jain \|first=Harsh \|title=New rise in India’s freelance community in 2022 \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/new-rise-in-indias-freelance-community-in-2022/#:~:text=India%E2%80%99s%20young%20workforce%20is%20inclining%20toward%20freelance%20and%20contractual%20opportunities.%20Possessing%20one%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20highest%20youngest%20working%20populations,%20India%20has%20the%20potential%20to%20become%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20largest%20freelance%20gig%20economy. \|access-date=2024-04-01 \|work=The Times of India \|issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

	== Government ==		== Government ==
	There ~~has not been much~~ effort from India's government towards assisting freelancers until ~~recently~~ when it ~~set up~~ the ''Digital India Platform''(DIP), an initiative to ~~digitalize~~ all government documents and where freelancers ~~would be~~ hired to ~~help carry out~~ the ~~task~~. Anyone with a knowledge ~~of computers has~~ access ~~to the Internet~~ and ~~owns~~ a valid Aadhar card would be eligible to apply for this freelance opportunity.<ref>Burke, Miles. The Principles Of Successful Freelancing. 1st ed., Collingwood, Vic., Sitepoint, 2008,.</ref>		There was little effort from India's [[Government of India\|government]] towards assisting freelancers until in 2015 when it started the ''Digital India Platform (''DIP), an initiative to digitize all government documents and where freelancers are hired to perform the tasks. Anyone with computer knowledge, Internet access, and a valid Aadhar card would be eligible to apply for this freelance opportunity.<ref>Burke, Miles. The Principles Of Successful Freelancing. 1st ed., Collingwood, Vic., Sitepoint, 2008,.</ref> More than 68% of freelancers depend upon social media to find suitable work opportunities <ref>{{Cite news \|date=1 June 2023 \|title=68% freelancers in India depend on social media to find work: Report \|url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/68-indian-freelancers-rely-on-social-media-to-find-work-says-report-123060100736_1.html \|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref>

	== ~~Economic contributions~~ ==		Considering that the [[Modi Government\|PM Modi’s Government]] has encouraged [[entrepreneurship]] by launching multiple programs, such as [[Skill India]] and [[Startup India]], it should now lend a helping hand and support the freelancer's community.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Kaur \|first=Gagandeep \|title=Should the government lend a helping hand to the freelancers? \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/should-the-government-lend-a-helping-hand-to-the-freelancers/ \|access-date=2024-04-01 \|work=The Times of India \|issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
	~~India has about 15 million freelancers<ref>[~~https://~~www~~.~~mbopartners~~.com/~~uploads~~/~~files~~/~~state~~-of-~~independence~~-reports/2016_MBO_Partners_State_of_Independence_Report.pdf. America's Independents: A Rising Economic Force]. MBO Partners, Inc, Herndon, Virginia, 2016,</ref> and they have been significantly boosting the growth of start-~~ups. While fostering~~ the ~~start~~-~~up economy in the country, Indian~~ freelancers ~~are also increasingly providing expertise to top~~-~~drawer corporations as business environments and needs evolve.<ref>Indian Companies Say I Do To~~ The ~~Freelance Economy. FlexingIt, New Delhi, 2016,.~~</ref>

	== Female Indian freelance workers ==		== Female Indian freelance workers ==
	~~There are numerous~~ highly educated women ~~armed with~~ masters and doctorate degrees in India who cannot pursue a regular occupation due to family and social obligations.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms\|title=~~Here’s~~ why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times\|newspaper=The Economic Times\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Rather than cutting short their professional careers, these women ~~seek out~~ freelancing ~~options~~.		Numerous highly educated women, holding masters and doctorate degrees in India who cannot pursue a regular occupation due to family and social obligations.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{Cite news\|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms\|title=Here's why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times\|newspaper=The Economic Times\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Rather than cutting short their professional careers, these women often turn to freelancing.

	~~Despite~~ freelancing ~~providing~~ a ~~viable~~ career option ~~for women looking for flexibility and control~~ the number of Indian women ~~taking up~~ freelancing ~~is still small as compared to~~ their male counterparts. In a survey conducted by Payoneer, a payments services provider based in New York in 2015, only 22 ~~per cent~~ of Indian freelancers are women.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tech-internet-combine-to-create-unconventional-career-options/story-1kHKXGcYpUiEMgyTYT9nNO.html\|title=Thanks to internet, India has most freelance professionals after US\|date=2015-12-07\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|language=en\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Not only this but the same report reveals that women are paid lesser than the men who freelance. While a male freelancer earns $19 per hour on an average, a female freelancer apparently earns $17 per hour for the same project.<ref name="Scroll.in">{{Cite news\|url=http://scroll.in/article/720242/work-more-earn-less-four-charts-sum-up-the-economics-of-freelancing-in-india\|title=Work more, earn less: four charts sum up the economics of freelancing in India\|last=Jain\|first=Mayank\|newspaper=Scroll.in\|language=en-US\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>		Although freelancing offers a flexible career option, the number of Indian women in freelancing remains comparatively smaller than their male counterparts. In a survey conducted by Payoneer, a payments services provider based in New York in 2015, only 22 percent of Indian freelancers are women.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tech-internet-combine-to-create-unconventional-career-options/story-1kHKXGcYpUiEMgyTYT9nNO.html\|title=Thanks to internet, India has most freelance professionals after US\|date=2015-12-07\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|language=en\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Not only this but the same report reveals that women are paid lesser than the men who freelance. While a male freelancer earns $19 per hour on an average, a female freelancer apparently earns $17 per hour for the same project.<ref name="Scroll.in">{{Cite news\|url=http://scroll.in/article/720242/work-more-earn-less-four-charts-sum-up-the-economics-of-freelancing-in-india\|title=Work more, earn less: four charts sum up the economics of freelancing in India\|last=Jain\|first=Mayank\|newspaper=Scroll.in\|language=en-US\|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>

	== Companies and freelancers ==		== Companies and freelancers ==
	The distinct shifts in ~~areas like~~ technology, culture, demographics and professional needs and goals have driven companies to reassess their human resource policies ~~in order~~ to accommodate the burgeoning freelance economy.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=~~http~~://~~economictimes~~.indiatimes.com/~~jobs~~/~~heres~~-~~why~~-~~freelancers~~-~~are~~-in-~~great-demand~~/~~articleshow/54538358.cms~~\|title=~~Here’s why freelancers are~~ in ~~great demand~~ - ~~The Economic Times~~\|newspaper=The ~~Economic~~ Times\|~~access-date~~=~~2017-01-31~~}}</ref> ~~It comes as no surprise that the start-ups in India are hiring 50 per cent of the total freelancing workforce.~~ These companies ~~are not only hiring~~ freelancers or independent consultants ~~at lower~~ management~~. In fact~~, freelance ~~CFO’s are also getting on board in order~~ to ~~help streamline~~ a company’s finances. According to industry estimates, hiring ~~their~~ services of an outsourced CFO can result in operational savings of 30 to 70 ~~per cent and depending~~ upon the nature of the job, fees ~~charged~~ can range from Rs 30,000 to a few lakhs per month.<ref>Nilika Mehrotra (2013), Disability, gender and caste intersections in Indian economy, in Sharon N. Barnartt , Barbara M. Altman (ed.) Disability and Intersecting Statuses (Research in Social Science and Disability, Volume 7) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 295 – 324</ref>		The distinct shifts in technology, culture, demographics, and professional needs and goals have driven companies to reassess their human resource policies to accommodate the burgeoning freelance economy.<ref name="indiatimes1"/> India has seen a significant increase in the freelance community, with a 46% rise in new freelancers from Q1 to Q2 in 2020, as reported by Times of India in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/new-rise-in-indias-freelance-community-in-2022/\|title=New rise in India's freelance community in 2022\|date=2022-03-17\|newspaper=The Times of India\|language=en}}</ref> These companies hire freelancers and independent consultants across various levels of management, including positions such as freelance CFOs who contribute to streamlining a company’s finances. According to industry estimates, hiring the services of an outsourced CFO can result in operational savings of 30 to 70 percent. Depending upon the nature of the job, fees can range from Rs. 30,000 to a few lakhs per month.<ref>Nilika Mehrotra (2013), Disability, gender and caste intersections in the Indian economy, in Sharon N. Barnartt, Barbara M. Altman (ed.) Disability and Intersecting Statuses (Research in Social Science and Disability, Volume 7) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 295 – 324</ref>

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Employment in India]]		[[Category:Employment in India]]
	[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]		[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]
			[[Category:Economy of India]]
			[[Category:Informal economy]]
	[~~https~~:~~//prolancerr.com/journal/benefits-to-freelance-writing/" Freelance writing"~~]		[[Category:Labour in India]]

2409:4050:E96:F914:9A87:807:2066:9D1D: /* Further reading */Added content

2021-07-31T15:58:16Z

>Apparition11: Reverted 1 edit by Rushikesh494 (talk): Spam

2021-05-22T11:38:16Z

Reverted 1 edit by Rushikesh494 (talk): Spam

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{{Multiple issues|
{{cleanup|reason=Broken referencing, some inline references seem misplaced (see original article version)|date=October 2017}}
{{tone|date=July 2017}}
{{Orphan|date=February 2017}}
}}
Globally, [[India]] ranks as the 2nd largest freelance workforce after the US with over 15 million people working independently in various sectors such as [[Information technology|IT]] and [[Programming language|programming]], finance, sales and marketing, designing, animation, videography, content and [[academic writing]]. By 2020, 50% of workers are expected to go freelance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/60-of-freelancers-in-india-are-under-30/articleshow/64743696.cms|title=Infographic: 60% of freelancers in India are under 30 - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>

== Government ==
There has not been much effort from India's government towards assisting freelancers until recently when it set up the ''Digital India Platform''(DIP), an initiative to digitalize all government documents and where freelancers would be hired to help carry out the task. Anyone with a knowledge of computers has access to the Internet and owns a valid Aadhar card would be eligible to apply for this freelance opportunity.<ref>Burke, Miles. The Principles Of Successful Freelancing. 1st ed., Collingwood, Vic., Sitepoint, 2008,.</ref>

== Economic contributions ==
India has about 15 million freelancers<ref>[https://www.mbopartners.com/uploads/files/state-of-independence-reports/2016_MBO_Partners_State_of_Independence_Report.pdf. America's Independents: A Rising Economic Force]. MBO Partners, Inc, Herndon, Virginia, 2016,</ref> and they have been significantly boosting the growth of start-ups. While fostering the start-up economy in the country, Indian freelancers are also increasingly providing expertise to top-drawer corporations as business environments and needs evolve.<ref>Indian Companies Say I Do To The Freelance Economy. FlexingIt, New Delhi, 2016,.</ref>

== Female Indian freelance workers ==
There are numerous highly educated women armed with masters and doctorate degrees in India who cannot pursue a regular occupation due to family and social obligations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms|title=Here’s why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Rather than cutting short their professional careers, these women seek out freelancing options.

Despite freelancing providing a viable career option for women looking for flexibility and control the number of Indian women taking up freelancing is still small as compared to their male counterparts. In a survey conducted by Payoneer, a payments services provider based in New York in 2015, only 22 per cent of Indian freelancers are women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tech-internet-combine-to-create-unconventional-career-options/story-1kHKXGcYpUiEMgyTYT9nNO.html|title=Thanks to internet, India has most freelance professionals after US|date=2015-12-07|newspaper=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Not only this but the same report reveals that women are paid lesser than the men who freelance. While a male freelancer earns $19 per hour on an average, a female freelancer apparently earns $17 per hour for the same project.<ref name="Scroll.in">{{Cite news|url=http://scroll.in/article/720242/work-more-earn-less-four-charts-sum-up-the-economics-of-freelancing-in-india|title=Work more, earn less: four charts sum up the economics of freelancing in India|last=Jain|first=Mayank|newspaper=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>

== Companies and freelancers ==
The distinct shifts in areas like technology, culture, demographics and professional needs and goals have driven companies to reassess their human resource policies in order to accommodate the burgeoning freelance economy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms|title=Here’s why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> It comes as no surprise that the start-ups in India are hiring 50 per cent of the total freelancing workforce. These companies are not only hiring freelancers or independent consultants at lower management. In fact, freelance CFO’s are also getting on board in order to help streamline a company’s finances. According to industry estimates, hiring their services of an outsourced CFO can result in operational savings of 30 to 70 per cent and depending upon the nature of the job, fees charged can range from Rs 30,000 to a few lakhs per month.<ref>Nilika Mehrotra (2013), Disability, gender and caste intersections in Indian economy, in Sharon N. Barnartt , Barbara M. Altman (ed.) Disability and Intersecting Statuses (Research in Social Science and Disability, Volume 7) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 295 – 324</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Das, Goutam. [https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/gig-work-india-contributes-1-in-4-freelancers/story/267601.html "Gig work: India now contributes 1 in 4 freelancers"] (January 9, 2018). ''Business Today''. Retrieved November 14, 2018.

[[Category:Employment in India]]
[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:28, 31 July 2021
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	[[Category:Employment in India]]		[[Category:Employment in India]]
	[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]		[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]


			[https://prolancerr.com/journal/benefits-to-freelance-writing/" Freelance writing"]