How gig workers can start retirement saving early with equity funds, NPS

They should not overestimate their ability to extend their work life to make up for lower savings

Archana Ahuja (name changed on request), a Faridabad-based freelance information technology professional, is 45. Over the past couple of years, she has often found herself worrying about her lack of retirement savings. “With life spans increasing, I should save vigorously for retirement. But growing household expenses and my uneven income have made it difficult to do so,” she says.  

 

The fourth edition of the India Retirement Index Study (IRIS), conducted by Max Life Insurance and Kantar, reflects this concern. It found that white-collar gig workers in urban India are less prepared for retirement compared to the broader population, with a