India: Retirement, Superannuation & Pensions

India’s gig economy is expanding rapidly, but gig workers do not automatically receive the same provident fund protection as traditional employees. With the Code on Social Security, 2020 now in force and the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 notified, has India finally addressed the social-security gap or has it simply created a new, scheme-based framework that still falls short of EPF protection?

This comprehensive update examines significant regulatory reforms and landmark judicial decisions reshaping India's employment law landscape in early 2026. From Delhi's expanded working hour thresholds and Karnataka's gig worker welfare framework to Supreme Court rulings on maternity benefits and the constitutional definition of 'industry', these developments signal a transformative period for workplace rights, gender equity, and labour relations across public and private sectors.

Barely a week after the Ministry of Labour & Employment notified the coming-into-force of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS) vide Gazette Notification No. 5143 dated 21 November 2025...