India is fast climbing the global freelancing charts (now the world’s second-largest freelance hub after the US) and the shift is anything but subtle. From media and IT to marketing and consulting, a growing wave of experienced professionals is walking away from salaried jobs to chase flexible, independent careers. Burnout, rigid hierarchies, and the lure of autonomy are fueling the exodus.
As of 2024, India is home to around 15 million freelancers, according to the Indian Freelancers Association — and that number is only going up. A 2023 report by global payment platform Payoneer pegged the country’s freelance economy at a blistering 46% year-on-year growth, well ahead of most of the world. The biggest movers are professionals with 8–10 years in corporate life who are now trading office cubicles for client calls from cafes and co-working spaces. Tech, content creation, digital marketing, design, and financial consulting are leading the charge.
Pandemic push, flexibility pull
The Covid-19 years were a turning point. With offices shut, many realised they didn’t need a desk, or even a boss, to be productive.
“The pandemic unlocked the mindset that you could be efficient without physical oversight. For years, I believed productivity was tied to office presence. But once we went remote, I realised how much more I could achieve on my own terms,” says Amit Sharma , a 34-year-old freelance software engineer from Delhi. “Now I handle clients in Singapore, Canada, and the Middle East from home – no commute, no office politics, total control over my schedule. It’s not just flexible, it’s fulfilling.”
According to NITI Aayog’s 2024 report, 28% of Indian knowledge workers are keen on independent work for the freedom, flexibility, and higher earning potential. For many women, freelancing has also opened doors that the corporate world kept shut.
Media pros reinventing themselves
The trend can be seen in the media sector as well, with shrinking newsrooms and fewer beats, tighter budgets, freelancers are stepping in to fill the gaps.
“Mainstream media isn’t hiring the way it used to. But outside those walls, the demand for good storytelling has exploded – brands, NGOs, startups, even government campaigns want narratives that connect,” says Laila Khan, a Sujwan-based content strategist. “Freelancing has kept my skills relevant and shown me new possibilities I hadn’t imagined.”
A Reuters Institute study in 2023 found that media freelancers, especially in regional languages, are increasingly crucial for hyperlocal reporting, often earning more than their salaried peers.
Still, the hustle is real. Irregular payments, lack of legal protections, and constant pitching remain everyday challenges.
And while the freelance media wave is big, it’s overshadowed by the tech and finance surge. A NASSCOM–Aon report shows India’s IT sector has seen a 34% jump in gig hiring since 2021, with projections that gig workers will swell from 7 million in 2021 to 23.5 million by 2030. Software development, data science, and cybersecurity are top draws, all riding on the demand for project-based talent.
Ecosystem Evolving, But Challenges Remain
The freelance wave isn’t just a passing fad, it’s reshaping how India works, and even the government has started taking notes. In 2023, the Ministry of Labour floated a proposal to bring freelancers and gig workers under a proper social security net. The plan -access to pensions, health insurance, and other benefits through the e-Shram portal, something that could be a game changer for millions who currently operate without a safety cushion.
The private sector is also catching up. Platforms like Refrens, Flexiple, and GigIndia are no longer just matchmaking sites for projects; they’re offering tax help, legal advice, and invoicing solutions tailor-made for the Indian gig worker. It’s an ecosystem that’s slowly but surely building support for a segment that has traditionally been left to fend for itself.
And this isn’t just a side hustle story anymore. As India eyes the coveted USD 5 trillion economy milestone, the gig and freelance sectors are expected to play a starring role in shaping the employment ecosystem. The Boston Consulting Group predicts that by 2030, nearly 24 million Indians could be part of the formal freelance workforce.
The shift is also forcing a rethink inside traditional industries. In media, for example, where full-time roles are being replaced with project-based contracts, editors are realising that tapping into freelance talent can mean higher efficiency without compromising on quality. Tahir Bhat, editor of The Patriot in Delhi, is one of those leaning in. For him, freelancing isn’t just a budget-friendly option, it’s a way to bring in fresh, diverse voices that can deliver sharp journalism without the constraints of a rigid newsroom.
The tax reality check
Of course, freedom from a boss doesn’t mean freedom from the taxman. With the ITR 2025 filing season underway, a lot of new freelancers are realising that taxes work a bit differently when you’re your own boss.
If you’re a salaried employee, your income is taxed under the head “Salaries”. You get a flat standard deduction – ₹50,000 under the old tax regime, or ₹75,000 if you’ve opted for the new one and you don’t have to show any receipts to claim it.
Freelancers, a different ball game! Your earnings are taxed under “Profits and Gains of Business or Profession”. No standard deduction here. Instead, you can claim actual work-related expenses, think internet bills, mobile bills, software subscriptions, travel for client meetings, even a portion of your rent and electricity if you’re working from home. Bought a laptop or printer? You can claim depreciation on those too. The key rule: it has to be directly linked to your work, and you should be able to justify it.
The math works like this: Total freelance income – legitimate business expenses = taxable income.
From there, your income is taxed at the same slab rates as salaried folks. And just like them, you can still claim deductions under sections like 80C, 80D, 80TTA, etc. If you live on rent, Section 80GG lets you claim up to ₹5,000 a month – provided you meet the conditions.
A few catches:
- Certain freelance categories (like content writing) cannot opt for the presumptive taxation scheme.
- You’ll need to file using ITR-3, not the simpler salaried forms.
- Irregular income means you need to plan for advance tax payments during the year or risk a penalty.
Bottom line: The tax rates might be the same for freelancers and salaried workers, but the rules, deductions, and paperwork are a whole different story.
