Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the informal sector in India

ABSTRACT The Coronavirus pandemic has affected various sectors in the world including India. The sector which has been badly affected by the pandemic is the informal sector. The present study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the informal sector in the world, including in India. An exploratory methodology is used in the study which is comprised of policy documents, research papers, international reports, and available literature in the related area. The study finds that the pandemic has severely affected poverty, hunger, deprivation, unemployment, economic and social inequality in the informal sector in India. As a result, it increases socio-economic problems in India. The study recommends bringing policies and protection measures for the informal sector to overcome such unprecedented events in the future. The study also suggests a need for further studies on the impact of COVID-19 on the informal sector in the emerging and developing countries of the World for broader generalisation. Otherwise, which will adversely affect the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.