Food delivery giant Zomato has joined hands with HDFC Pension to launch the “NPS Platform Workers Model”, a pension plan designed specifically for its delivery partners. The programme aims to provide gig workers with a reliable retirement safety net, something they have traditionally been excluded from.
The initiative was officially launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during an event hosted by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to celebrate NPS Diwas. Kfintech is acting as the Central Recordkeeping Agency, ensuring smooth backend operations for the platform.
Financial Security Begins
Under this model, Zomato’s delivery partners will now get access to the National Pension System (NPS), allowing them to make small contributions regularly and build a retirement corpus over time. Once they reach retirement age, they will receive a mix of lump sum withdrawals and monthly pensions for long-term financial support.
The system also enables easy onboarding using eKYC and ensures portability, meaning delivery partners can continue their pension account even if they switch platforms or cities.
Rising Demand Seen
According to a NITI Aayog report, India is expected to have 23.5 million platform workers by FY2030, yet very few currently have access to structured retirement savings. This collaboration between Zomato and HDFC Pension is being seen as a major shift towards formalising financial protection for gig workers.
Zomato revealed that within just 72 hours of integration, more than 30,000 delivery partners had already registered and generated Permanent Retirement Account Numbers (PRANs). The platform aims to extend NPS coverage to over 1 lakh partners by 2025.
Leaders Share Views
Sriram Iyer, Managing Director & CEO of HDFC Pension, said that most individuals realise the importance of retirement planning only when it’s too late. He emphasised that this model will now enable gig workers, who were earlier outside the formal pension system, to start early and secure their future.
He thanked PFRDA for its vision and appreciated Zomato’s efforts in making retirement planning accessible to workers who are often overlooked in traditional financial systems.
Commitment Continues
Aditya Mangla, CEO of Zomato, said that the company’s delivery partners are the backbone of its operations, and this partnership is a step towards ensuring not just daily livelihood but long-term dignity and assurance.
He added that this move reflects Zomato’s vision of building stability and respect within India’s gig economy, encouraging other companies to adopt similar initiatives.
Zomato Competitors
With this pension move, Zomato is setting a new benchmark for employee welfare in the gig sector. Its major competitors like Swiggy, Blinkit, Dunzo and Uber Eats also rely on vast delivery fleets, and the industry will now be closely watched to see if they adopt similar pension models.
As the gig economy grows rapidly in India, platforms offering social security benefits may gain stronger loyalty and retention from workers, making financial stability a key differentiator in the sector.
