India's quick-commerce industry is transforming how millions of people in the South Asian country shop, with groceries and essentials delivered in minutes by a workforce of thousands of riders.

Now worth over $7 billion (€6 billion) and growing rapidly, the sector relies on speed-driving delivery workers who earn per order. They face intense pressure from incentive-based pay systems, often working long hours without job security.

While consumers embrace the convenience — placing more than 10 million orders a day — delivery riders report low pay, safety risks and burnout, with some working up to 18 hours daily.

Economists warn that behind the rapid growth of platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy and Instamart lies a deeply unequal labor model, raising questions about whether India's fast-growing quick commerce industry can deliver fair jobs alongside fast service.

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.