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Jobs & Career
Digital finance gap curtails Indian women’s participation in platform work, report says
✍️ Business Standard
🗓 25 Aug 2026, 03:38 AM
👁 2
A Business Standard report finds that limited access to digital financial services is a key barrier preventing women from joining the gig and platform economy in India.
A recent report published by Business Standard highlights a persistent digital finance gap that is restricting women's entry into platform-based work across India. The analysis points out that many women lack access to essential digital banking tools, such as online accounts, mobile wallets, and credit facilities, which are increasingly required to secure gigs on online marketplaces.
The report notes that platform work, ranging from food delivery to freelance services, often demands quick digital transactions and credit lines for equipment or inventory. Without these financial instruments, women face higher entry costs and reduced ability to compete with male counterparts who more readily use digital finance solutions.
Experts cited in the study call for targeted policy interventions, including expanding digital banking outreach, simplifying KYC procedures for women, and promoting financial literacy programs tailored to the gig economy. Such measures could help bridge the gap and enable a more inclusive platform workforce.
The findings underscore the broader economic implications of digital exclusion, suggesting that closing the finance gap could unlock a sizable pool of talent and contribute to India's growth objectives in the digital age.
The report notes that platform work, ranging from food delivery to freelance services, often demands quick digital transactions and credit lines for equipment or inventory. Without these financial instruments, women face higher entry costs and reduced ability to compete with male counterparts who more readily use digital finance solutions.
Experts cited in the study call for targeted policy interventions, including expanding digital banking outreach, simplifying KYC procedures for women, and promoting financial literacy programs tailored to the gig economy. Such measures could help bridge the gap and enable a more inclusive platform workforce.
The findings underscore the broader economic implications of digital exclusion, suggesting that closing the finance gap could unlock a sizable pool of talent and contribute to India's growth objectives in the digital age.