Informal Economy in India – A 61% Reality India’s informal economy makes up over 61% of total employment . But what does “informal” really mean? 🧱 Definition Informal jobs are those without formal contracts, benefits, or long-term security—like street vendors, gig workers, or daily wage laborers. 📊 Key Data Street vendors: 1 crore+ Daily wage workers: 45% of labor force Gig economy: Rapidly growing post-2020 📉 Challenges No job security, lack of insurance, irregular income, and zero pension coverage. These gaps widen the development divide. Insight: Tracking informal data helps create better public policies and financial inclusion strategies.