The Economic Survey 2025-26, presented by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran ahead of the Union Budget, offered a comprehensive analysis of India's labour market, regulatory environment, and climate strategy. A key highlight was the gig economy: India's gig workforce currently stands at approximately 1.2 crore (12 million) workers and is projected to grow to represent 6.7% of the non-agricultural workforce by 2030, reflecting the rapid rise of platform-based employment in sectors like ride-hailing, food delivery, and e-commerce logistics.

On labour reform, the Survey noted that the Government of India has notified all Four Labour Codes — the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) — which consolidate 29 central labour laws into four simplified codes. A critical feature is portable social security for gig and platform workers, allowing them to carry their benefits across employers. However, the Survey urged states to expeditiously frame and notify their own rules to operationalise the codes, as labour is a concurrent subject.

The Survey recommended over 630 deregulation reforms at the state level, framing deregulation not as a reduction in oversight but as a capacity-building measure — enabling businesses to comply more easily while government focuses on enforcement where it truly matters. This approach draws from global best practices where simpler rules improve compliance rates.

On climate, the Survey endorsed climate adaptation over mitigation as India's priority, given the country's developmental needs. It also flagged nuclear energy as a viable long-term option for India's clean energy mix, alongside renewables. The Survey also highlighted the importance of reducing India's dependence on China in critical supply chains including electronics and solar components.