Zomato, in collaboration with HDFC Pension, has launched the ‘NPS Platform Workers Model’ to provide its delivery partners with access to formal retirement benefits under India’s National Pension System (NPS). Unveiled on October 1, 2025, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during NPS Diwas, the initiative targets financial security for gig economy workers. The model allows small, regular contributions, portability of benefits, and seamless digital onboarding through eKYC. This step represents a landmark effort to integrate platform-based workers into formal financial frameworks, offering long-term savings solutions and enhancing the broader goal of financial inclusion in India’s rapidly growing gig economy.
NPS Platform Workers Model: Bridging the Retirement Gap
Zomato and HDFC Pension’s partnership introduces a retirement savings framework tailored for delivery partners. The NPS Platform Workers Model is designed to address the long-standing gap in retirement planning for gig economy workers, who traditionally lack structured savings mechanisms. Through this initiative, delivery partners gain the ability to contribute regularly to a formal pension scheme, ensuring long-term financial stability.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman formally launched the initiative at a Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) event, highlighting the government’s focus on inclusive financial security for platform workers.
Features and Benefits
Affordable Contributions: The model enables delivery partners to contribute small, manageable amounts, making pension savings accessible even for those with variable incomes.
Portability: NPS accounts are portable, allowing workers to carry their retirement benefits as they move across jobs or platforms.
Seamless Onboarding: Digital onboarding and eKYC ensure quick and user-friendly registration, reducing administrative hurdles for gig workers.
This model empowers platform workers to accumulate a retirement corpus over time, mitigating the risk of financial insecurity in later life.
Early Adoption and Scaling Plans
Since the program’s launch, over 30,000 Zomato delivery partners have generated their Permanent Retirement Account Numbers (PRANs) within 72 hours. Zomato aims to extend coverage to more than 100,000 delivery partners by the end of 2025. Currently, the company operates on a gig-first model, supporting approximately 5,09,000 independent monthly active delivery partners as of Q1 FY26.
Industry Significance
According to a NITI Aayog report, India’s platform worker population is projected to reach 23.5 million by FY2029-30. Despite this growth, retirement savings among these workers remain minimal due to limited access and awareness. Initiatives like the NPS Platform Workers Model aim to close this gap, offering gig workers a structured pathway to long-term financial security while reinforcing the importance of social protection in the informal sector.
Conclusion
The Zomato-HDFC Pension collaboration represents a significant milestone in integrating gig economy workers into formal financial systems. By providing accessible, portable, and secure retirement solutions, the NPS Platform Workers Model not only enhances the financial resilience of delivery partners but also advances broader financial inclusion objectives in India’s evolving digital economy.
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