The Great Shift In Employment In India
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SELF-EMPLOYMENT in India has witnessed a substantial increase. According to CMIE’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey, from 13% in FY17 the number of business persons climbed to nearly 20% by FY24. Of total employment at 423.6 million, 86.6 million were business persons in FY24. The composition, too, has changed significantly. In FY17, small traders and wage labourers dominated at 42.4%, but their share has now dropped below 30%. This shift indicates a dynamic change in India’s employment landscape, suggesting a move towards greater entrepreneurial activity and economic diversification.
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August 2025
As India continues to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy, Fortune India presents its special issue on the nation’s Top 100 Billionaires. Curated in partnership with Waterfield Advisors, this year’s list reflects a slight decline in the number of dollar billionaires—from 185 to 182—even as the entry threshold for the Top 100 rose to ₹24,283 crore, up from ₹22,739 crore last year. From stalwarts like Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and the Mistry family, who continue to lead the list, to major gainers such as Sunil Mittal and Kumar Mangalam Birla, the issue goes beyond the numbers to explore the resilience, ambition, and strategic foresight that define India’s wealth creators. Read their compelling stories in the latest issue of Fortune India. On stands now.