Score:
9/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS3
Economy
15 marks
Why is social security important for gig and platform workers in India? Discuss the role of Social Security Boards in ensuring their welfare and the challenges involved.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Why social security is important for gig and platform workers
- What role Social Security Boards play in ensuring their welfare
- What challenges these boards face in protecting gig workers
What you wrote:
NITI Aayog Report notes there will be 2.35 crore workers in gig Economy by 2029-30. highlighting need for Social Security coverage for inclusive economy.
NITI Aayog Report notes there will be 2.35 crore workers in gig Economy by 2029-30. highlighting need for Social Security coverage for inclusive economy.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could briefly connect the growing workforce with irregular earnings and limited employer-backed protection.
What you wrote:
[FLOWCHART: An oval on the left containing "Significance of Social Security for Gig/Platform worker" with four arrows pointing to text on the right:
- Arrow 1 -> "healthcare benefits for vulnerable section"
- Arrow 2 -> "income Security in case of sickness, maternity, old age, unemployment."
- Arrow 3 -> "accidental insurance coverage in case of mishaps"
- Arrow 4 -> "Ensuring decent pensions at old age. upholding geriatric care."]
[FLOWCHART: An oval on the left containing "Significance of Social Security for Gig/Platform worker" with four arrows pointing to text on the right:
- Arrow 1 -> "healthcare benefits for vulnerable section"
- Arrow 2 -> "income Security in case of sickness, maternity, old age, unemployment."
- Arrow 3 -> "accidental insurance coverage in case of mishaps"
- Arrow 4 -> "Ensuring decent pensions at old age. upholding geriatric care."]
Suggestions to improve:
- Can link healthcare and accident protection to work-related risks and the financial burden of treatment.
- Could explain how irregular earnings make sickness or unemployment especially damaging to workers’ household income.
- Can combine the two old-age points and use the freed space to explain how social security prevents workers from falling into poverty.
What you wrote:
After labour Codes-2020. notified in November 2025, National Social Security Board. (NSSB) for gig and platform workers is established in October 2026 by labour ministry focussing on Social Security.
Role of NSSB
1. Policy Evolution -> aid in designing and recommendation on welfare Schemes and Service delivery.
2. Monitoring of Social Security coverage and benefits and identifying gaps in implementation.
3. Integrate gig/platform workers into formal architecture through inclusive framework.
4. Welfare funds -> Oversee 1-2% of turnover contribution by platform aggregators under Code on Social Security - 2020.
5. Federal platform. upholding collaboration among union, State, Aggregators, Trade unions etc on labour laws & welfare (Concurrent list - 7th Schedule)
After labour Codes-2020. notified in November 2025, National Social Security Board. (NSSB) for gig and platform workers is established in October 2026 by labour ministry focussing on Social Security.
Role of NSSB
1. Policy Evolution -> aid in designing and recommendation on welfare Schemes and Service delivery.
2. Monitoring of Social Security coverage and benefits and identifying gaps in implementation.
3. Integrate gig/platform workers into formal architecture through inclusive framework.
4. Welfare funds -> Oversee 1-2% of turnover contribution by platform aggregators under Code on Social Security - 2020.
5. Federal platform. upholding collaboration among union, State, Aggregators, Trade unions etc on labour laws & welfare (Concurrent list - 7th Schedule)
Suggestions to improve:
- Could explain “integration” through identifying coverage gaps and recommending measures that bring excluded workers into welfare schemes.
- Can connect funding oversight with monitoring whether resources support accessible benefits for workers.
- Could widen the discussion beyond the Central NSSB by including State Welfare Boards, such as Rajasthan’s, which collect transaction-based welfare fees and provide local dispute resolution.
What you wrote:
Challenges
1. Exclusion -> Though defining gig workers in Code on Social Security 2020, establishing NSSB is welcoming yet gig workers do not get mention in 'Code on wages', 'Industrial Relations Code', and 'OSHW-2020'
2. Toothless board -> Recommendary nature of board lacks enforcement powers.
3. Executive dominance -> chaired by Union minister himself and nomination of members by centre risks over centralisation. Also, trade unions of State in opposition parties rule doesn't have mandatory inclusion clause.
4. Platform complexity -> algorithm bias penalising workers, 'multiaffing' culture. (swiggy, Uber etc) makes transperancy obscure and complex.
5. Capping of contribution of platform at 5% of Payout undermines welfare funds strengthen.
Challenges
1. Exclusion -> Though defining gig workers in Code on Social Security 2020, establishing NSSB is welcoming yet gig workers do not get mention in 'Code on wages', 'Industrial Relations Code', and 'OSHW-2020'
2. Toothless board -> Recommendary nature of board lacks enforcement powers.
3. Executive dominance -> chaired by Union minister himself and nomination of members by centre risks over centralisation. Also, trade unions of State in opposition parties rule doesn't have mandatory inclusion clause.
4. Platform complexity -> algorithm bias penalising workers, 'multiaffing' culture. (swiggy, Uber etc) makes transperancy obscure and complex.
5. Capping of contribution of platform at 5% of Payout undermines welfare funds strengthen.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could explain how gaps in wider labour protections leave Boards unable to address every employment-related problem through welfare schemes alone.
- Can focus the executive-dominance point on whether workers’ concerns meaningfully influence Board decisions.
- Could make the causal links explicit: contribution limits may constrain available funds, while work across multiple platforms complicates contribution tracking and benefit portability.
What you wrote:
Board establishment is a welcoming step., way forward lies in sustainable funding, better implementation, stakeholder involvement and actual delivery to realise true potential of gig economy realising VB@2047 goal and SDG-8.
Board establishment is a welcoming step., way forward lies in sustainable funding, better implementation, stakeholder involvement and actual delivery to realise true potential of gig economy realising VB@2047 goal and SDG-8.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could identify one practical priority, such as accessible benefit claims or meaningful worker participation, rather than ending with several general aims.
Your answer covers all three demands and identifies useful institutional challenges. Stronger gig-specific reasoning and clearer links between Board functions, implementation problems and worker outcomes will sharpen it.
Demand of the Question
- Why social security is important for gig and platform workers
- What role Social Security Boards play in ensuring their welfare
- What challenges these boards face in protecting gig workers
What you wrote:
NITI Aayog Report notes there will be 2.35 crore workers in gig Economy by 2029-30. highlighting need for Social Security coverage for inclusive economy.
NITI Aayog Report notes there will be 2.35 crore workers in gig Economy by 2029-30. highlighting need for Social Security coverage for inclusive economy.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could briefly connect the growing workforce with irregular earnings and limited employer-backed protection.
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