Sneha, a Bengaluru resident, shared her experience as a delivery agent for Blinkit on social media, which went viral and caught the attention of company officials. Her detailed feedback highlighted issues with the company's operations, including false claims of high earnings. In response, Blinkit founder Albinder Dhindsa acknowledged the issues and committed to addressing them. This incident has brought to light the challenges faced by delivery agents in the fast-paced world of online delivery services.
Delivery Agents' Plight Exposes Labor Challenges in India's Online Delivery Sector
Background:
The rapid growth of online delivery services in India has led to increased demand for delivery agents. These agents, often employed on a gig basis, face numerous challenges, including low wages, long hours, and unsafe working conditions.
Blinkit Controversy:
Recently, Sneha, a delivery agent for Blinkit (formerly Grofers), shared her experiences on social media, alleging false promises of high earnings and poor working conditions. Her viral post sparked outrage and caught the attention of Blinkit's founder.
In response, Albinder Dhindsa, Blinkit's founder, acknowledged the issues and pledged to address them. This incident highlighted the widespread problems faced by delivery agents in India's online delivery sector.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. What are the common challenges faced by delivery agents in India?
A: Low wages, long hours, unsafe working conditions, lack of job security, and lack of access to benefits.
2. Why are delivery agents often paid low wages?
A: Many delivery companies operate on a platform-based model, which allows them to classify their agents as contractors rather than employees. This allows them to avoid paying benefits and minimum wage.
3. How do long hours and unsafe working conditions affect delivery agents?
A: Long hours can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of accidents. Unsafe working conditions, such as poor lighting, heavy traffic, and lack of proper safety gear, can also pose significant hazards.
4. What steps are being taken by government and companies to address these challenges?
A: The Indian government has proposed new regulations to improve working conditions for gig workers. Some companies have also implemented measures to provide better training, safety equipment, and support for their agents.
5. What can consumers do to support delivery agents?
A: Tipping delivery agents, treating them with respect, and being understanding of any delays they may encounter can help to improve their experiences and working conditions.
After creating a buzz on social media, Mahindra has now announced the prices for their top models BE 6 and XEV 9e. Priced at Rs 18.9 and Rs 26.9 lakh respectively, both models can be pre-booked from February 14, 2025. Interested customers can also test drive them starting from January 14 in select cities. The BE 6 offers an impressive range and fast charging capabilities, making it a promising offering from Mahindra.
The University Grants Commission is seeking suggestions and comments from stakeholders on its proposed draft regulations for the appointment and promotion of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges. The regulations aim to update and harmonize guidelines for academic positions across all higher education institutions in India, and will introduce new methodologies for recruitment and promotion processes. Stakeholders are urged to review the draft and contribute to the shaping of the future of academic staffing in the country.
The Indian Health Ministry is taking action as the number of HMPV cases rises to five, with two patients in Tamil Nadu and none so far in Maharashtra. The 2019 outbreak began with two infants in Bengaluru but only one remains hospitalized. The respiratory illness has flu-like symptoms such as common cold, sore throat, and fever and the ministry has directed state health officials to monitor any SARI or ILI cases. Haryana's health minister has issued an advisory for civil surgeons in regards to respiratory diseases including HMPV.
The stock market saw a sharp decline on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite falling 0.9% and 1.6%, respectively. This was fueled by a rise in the yield of 10-year Treasurys, indicating concerns about the future of interest rates. The release of strong economic data, including better-than-expected job openings in November, also raised questions about the Fed's decision-making on rates. The tech sector was hit hard, with AI chipmaker Nvidia's stock dropping 5% after hitting an all-time high earlier in the day.
In an interesting turn of events, users of X (formerly Twitter) discovered a "X Score" feature that was touted to provide an insight into their social credit standing on the platform. However, most users were shocked when the AI assistant gave them a paltry 38 out of 100. This led to speculations of a possible algorithm tweak by X's owner Elon Musk, but later it was revealed that this was not an official feature and no changes had been made to the algorithm. So, if you're wondering why your views are going down, Musk has a simple answer for you.
Nazibur Rahman, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office and National Board of Revenue chairman, has been sent to jail after his three-day remand in connection with the 2022 killing of a BNP activist. Police have implicated Rahman in the case after arresting him in October 2025. The incident began when BNP leaders and activists gathered in the capital as part of their party program. On December 7, 2022, police and AL men entered the BNP office and opened fire, injuring the activist. A case has been filed against 256 people, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for their involvement in the incident.
In a major shift, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads will no longer use fact-checkers to moderate content, instead relying on community notes similar to X. The move is intended to promote free speech and reduce mistakes in content moderation. Additionally, the company will be moving its trust and safety teams responsible for content policies and moderation from California to Texas and scrapping restrictions on topics like immigration and gender identity. However, there is a trade-off as the company admits it will catch less bad content but also reduce the number of innocent posts and accounts that are accidentally removed.
According to Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini, AC Milan is considering a potential loan deal for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford. Milan sees him as a potential reserve for Rafael Leão and a backup option for Álvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham. However, Rashford's high salary of €14 million per year is a major obstacle for Italian clubs. Talks have yet to take place, but Milan is open to discussing the deal if United helps cover the salary.
Standard Glass Lining Technology Ltd. is set to raise Rs 410.05 crore through its initial public offering, which has been subscribed 16.13 times so far on Tuesday. The grey market premium for the IPO currently stands at Rs 93, suggesting a potential 66.43% premium at listing. With an issue price range of Rs 133–140 and a combination of fresh issue and offer for sale, the company has already raised Rs 123 crore from anchor investors and is set to finalise allotment on Jan. 9 with a tentative listing date of Jan. 13.
The stock market saw a sharp decline in the morning hours of trading on Monday, with the Sensex plunging close to 800 points and the Nifty tanking over 250 points. This was attributed to fresh foreign fund outflows and the cautious stance of investors ahead of the upcoming earnings season. The broader markets also traded in the red, with the Nifty Microcap 250 leading the losses and the Nifty Metal and Realty indices dominating in the red. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude saw a slight dip, while the US markets ended on a positive note on Friday.