Overview On January 1, 2026 , food delivery aggregators Swiggy , Zomato , and Magicpin reported a significant surge in orders on New Year's Eve. This occurred even as a section of gig workers went on strike, demanding better payouts and improved working conditions. The strike, organized by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) , had a negligible impact on the operations of these companies. Key Developments Gig Workers' Strike The GIPSWU stated that over 1 lakh workers from 22 cities participated in the strike. This included 14,000 of its members from major cities like Delhi and Mumbai . The strike aimed to highlight issues related to payouts and working conditions for gig workers. Food Delivery Surge Magicpin reported lakhs of orders pouring in every hour across metros on New Year's Eve. Zomato and Blinkit delivered at a record pace, unaffected by the strike calls. According to Deepinder Goyal , Zomato and Blinkit delivered over 75 lakh orders to over 63 lakh customers . Gig Economy Statistics There are over 12.7 million gig workers in India. NITI Aayog projects the gig workforce to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30 . This highlights the growing importance of the gig economy in India's labor market. Consumer Preferences Popular food choices on New Year's Eve included biryani, pizzas, butter chicken, and desserts like gajar ka halwa. On Swiggy , biryani clocked a staggering 2.19 lakh orders before 7:30 p.m. Pizza and burger orders were also high, with over 2.18 lakh pizzas and 2.16 lakh burgers ordered by 8:30 p.m. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus as it touches upon several important themes: GS3 (Economy): The gig economy, labor market dynamics, and the role of technology in transforming industries. GS2 (Social Justice): Issues related to labor rights, working conditions, and social security for gig workers. Essay: Broader themes related to the future of work, technology and society, and economic development. Exam Perspective Prelims Focus on factual information such as the names of organizations ( GIPSWU , NITI Aayog ), key statistics (number of gig workers, order volumes), and dates. Mains Analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by the gig economy in India. Discuss the policy measures needed to ensure fair working conditions and social security for gig workers. Evaluate the impact of technology and changing consumer preferences on the food industry.