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What do you really earn per hour?

The app shows your payout. Take away fuel, EMI, phone data and commission and the real figure is lower. Find it in a minute, then learn what the new social security rules give you.

Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources

Your usual week

Fuel
Monthly costs

Your real earning

₹67/hourThe app seems to pay ₹108 an hour
Kept in a week₹4,023
Kept in a month₹17,491
Goes in costs38.1%
Running cost per km₹2.56
  • Fuel₹1,373 a week
  • EMI or rent₹805 a week
  • Phone and data₹69 a week
  • Repairs₹161 a week
  • Other₹69 a week

Break-even: the first 11.4 hours of each week only pay for EMI, phone and other fixed costs.

About 80.9 hours a week (13.5 hours a day, 6 days).

Share your real earning

The card is drawn on your phone. Only the numbers on it are shared, and only if you send it.

Daily earnings diary

Saved only in this browser on this phone. Nobody else, not even we, can see it. Save a copy now and then.

Add today’s earning to start. After a week you will see your weekly chart here.

Do I pay income tax?

₹0No income tax this year (new regime)
  1. Simple scheme (6% of payouts as profit)₹0
  2. Real profit (payouts minus costs, needs books)₹0
  • Return form: ITR-4 (Sugam). File by 31 August 2027 even when tax is zero if TDS was cut, to get it back.
  • Platforms may cut a small TDS from payouts. Check it in AIS and Form 26AS on incometax.gov.in before filing.
  • Under the simple scheme you may declare a higher profit than the minimum, never a lower one.

An estimate for tax year 2026-27, waiting for a chartered accountant’s review. Check with a CA or the e-filing portal before you file.

Your rights under the new lawLegal review pending

You are named in the law

The Code on Social Security, 2020 defines a gig worker (work outside a normal employer and employee relationship) and a platform worker (work through an app or online platform), and the app company as an "aggregator".

Sec 2(2), 2(35), 2(61)

labour.gov.in

Registration and a UAN

Every gig or platform worker aged 16 or more is to be registered with Aadhaar. Under the 2026 Rules the app must send your details to the central portal, which issues a UAN and a digital ID card. You can also register yourself.

Sec 113; Rule 48

labour.gov.in

Schemes the government can run for you

Life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, creche and more. No such scheme for gig workers had been notified when we last checked; registering now means you are counted when one starts.

Sec 114(1)

labour.gov.in

Apps pay into a fund

Apps are to contribute 1% to 2% of their yearly turnover, capped at 5% of what they pay gig and platform workers, into a separate social security fund. The exact rate and start date are set by a separate notification.

Sec 114(4), 114(5)

labour.gov.in

Who qualifies for benefits

At least 90 days with one app, or 120 days across apps, in the last financial year. Any day you earned counts as a day; three apps on one day count as three days. Benefits stop at age 60 or if you fall below these days.

Rule 48(2)(e), 49(4)

labour.gov.in

A board with workers on it

The National Social Security Board for unorganised, gig and platform workers was notified on 30 October 2026, with members from apps and from workers. It advises on schemes.

Sec 6, 114(6)

pib.gov.in

Plain-language summary for information, not legal advice. Waiting for review by an advocate. Read the official text before you rely on it.

Get your e-Shram card and UAN

  1. Check you can register

    Aged 16 or more, working in the unorganised sector (gig and platform work counts), not a member of EPFO or ESIC, and not an income tax payer. static.pib.gov.in

  2. Keep Aadhaar and your phone ready

    Aadhaar number and a mobile number, best if linked to Aadhaar, for the OTP. A bank account helps for future payments.

  3. Register yourself or at a CSC

    Self registration is on register.eshram.gov.in. A Common Service Centre or State Seva Kendra does it free of cost. register.eshram.gov.in

  4. Choose platform or gig work

    Pick your occupation as a delivery, ride or other platform worker and add the apps you work with.

  5. Download the e-Shram card

    The card carries your 12-digit UAN. From the same portal you can sign up for PMSBY and PMJJBY. eshram.gov.in

Accident and life cover

PMSBY: accident cover for ₹20 a year

₹2 lakh for accidental death or total permanent disability, ₹1 lakh for partial permanent disability. Age 18 to 70. Paid by auto-debit from your bank or post office account; claims go through that bank.

pib.gov.in

PMJJBY: life cover for ₹436 a year

₹2 lakh to the family on death from any cause. Age 18 to 50 to join. Cover starts after a 30-day waiting period from joining (not for accidents).

pib.gov.in

e-Shram and these schemes

The e-Shram portal links to PMSBY and PMJJBY, so you can join from there. We could not confirm on an official page that the older free e-Shram accident cover is still running, so we do not count on it here.

static.pib.gov.in

Tax on gig income in four linesCA review pending

  • No tax up to ₹12 lakh: Under the new regime, a resident with total taxable income up to ₹12 lakh pays no income tax because of the rebate (section 156). There is no standard deduction for gig income; it is for salary only. egazette.gov.in
  • Simple (presumptive) scheme: Under section 58 you may show profit as 6% of receipts that came by bank or UPI (8% of cash), if receipts are within ₹3 crore (₹2 crore if more than 5% came in cash). No detailed books needed. You may show more profit, not less. egazette.gov.in
  • TDS by the app: An e-commerce operator deducts 0.1% TDS (section 393, earlier 194-O), except for an individual whose receipts are up to ₹5 lakh and who has given PAN or Aadhaar. Check it in your Annual Information Statement and Form 26AS on incometax.gov.in. incometax.gov.in
  • Which form, by when: ITR-4 (Sugam) is the form for presumptive income today, ITR-3 if you keep full books. The forms for tax year 2026-27 are to be notified. With business income and no audit, the Finance Bill 2026 set the due date at 31 August. indiabudget.gov.in

Estimate and summary for tax year 2026-27, waiting for a chartered accountant’s review. Confirm with a CA or the e-filing portal before you file.

State gig worker lawsLegal review pending

States that have passed their own law for platform-based gig workers. Rules and boards may still be starting; check the state labour department.

Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023

Registration with a unique ID valid across apps, a welfare board with worker members, a welfare fee on each transaction, and a grievance petition with appeal within 90 days.

Act 29 of 2023. Start date not seen notified

prsindia.org

Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025

Registration with a unique ID, a welfare board, a welfare fee of 1% to 5% of each payout paid by the app, an internal dispute committee and a grievance officer, with appeal.

Reported in force with rules; details need checking

prsindia.org

Telangana Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2026

An app can end your work only with written reasons and 7 days’ notice (except specified cases). A welfare fund fee paid by the app, which must not be cut from your pay. Grievance officer and appeal.

Act 21 of 2026. Start date by notification

prsindia.org

Bihar Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025

Welfare fee of 1% to 2% of each payout. Work can be ended only with written reasons and at least 7 days’ notice. Set benefits such as ₹4 lakh on accidental death at work, help for hospital stays and disability, and 90 days of maternity benefit.

Act 8 of 2025. Start date not seen notified

prsindia.org

Jharkhand Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2025

Passed by the Assembly in 2025 with registration and a welfare board. Rules, board and fee rate not yet confirmed.

Passed 2025. Commencement not confirmed

prsindia.org

Plain-language summary for information, not legal advice. Waiting for review by an advocate. Read the official text before you rely on it.

Safe on the road

  • Carry your emergency card with blood group and a family number. 112 works across India for police, fire and ambulance.
  • In heat, drink water every hour, rest in shade between orders, and stop if you feel dizzy or stop sweating: that is a heat stroke sign.
  • Do not ride faster to beat a delivery timer. A helmet and a valid licence protect your PMSBY and vehicle insurance claims too.
  • Report an accident on duty to the app in writing and keep the reference number. Save photos, the FIR or hospital papers.

Helplines

How it works

  • Enter one usual week: payout, hours online (waiting time counts), kilometres, and monthly costs. Monthly costs are spread over 4.35 weeks.
  • Real earning per hour = (payout minus all costs) divided by hours. Break-even = how many hours each week only pay for the fixed costs like EMI and data.
  • The diary keeps each day’s earning, spending and hours in this browser only. Save a CSV copy for your records or your CA.
  • The tax check uses the new regime for tax year 2026-27 and compares the simple presumptive scheme with your real profit.
  • Nothing you type is sent anywhere. The share card is drawn on your phone and goes only where you send it.

Questions people ask

Am I covered by the Code on Social Security?

Yes. Since 21 November 2025 the Code on Social Security, 2020 names gig workers and platform workers, and lets the government run schemes for them funded partly by aggregators (the apps). Register on e-Shram so that schemes can reach you.

What do the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 change?

Notified on 8 May 2026. Every gig and platform worker aged 16 or more is to be registered on the central portal (e-Shram) with Aadhaar. Each app (aggregator) had to send its workers’ details within 45 days, and must add new workers daily and update details every month. You become eligible for benefits after 90 days with one app, or 120 days across apps, in the last financial year; a day with any earning counts, and days on different apps add up. You get a digital ID card. Benefits stop at 60.

How do I register on e-Shram?

Go to eshram.gov.in, choose self registration, enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and the OTP, fill in your details and work type, and download the e-Shram card with your 12-digit UAN. A Common Service Centre can do it for you free. Helpline 14434.

Which insurance can I get for very little?

PMSBY gives ₹2 lakh accident cover for ₹20 a year (age 18 to 70). PMJJBY gives ₹2 lakh life cover for ₹436 a year (age 18 to 50). Both are taken through your bank account with auto-debit.

Do I need to pay income tax?

Most delivery and ride partners do not: under the new regime there is no tax when total taxable income is up to ₹12 lakh. You may still file a return to get back any TDS the platform cut. Use the tax check on this page.

My state has a gig workers law. What does it give me?

Some states have their own Acts with a welfare board, registration and a fee on aggregators. See the state laws section below; the details are waiting for legal review.

Sources

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