The collaboration done with HDFC Pension for delivery partners onboarded on Zomato
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, October 2, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Zomato, India’s food ordering and delivery platform, and HDFC Pension, India’s largest Corporate NPS Point of Presence and Private sector Pension Fund Manager for the National Pension System (NPS), have joined hands to introduce the ‘NPS Platform Workers Model’ for delivery partners onboarded on Zomato. The model was formally launched yesterday by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman at an event organised by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in New Delhi, on the occasion of NPS Diwas, celebrated annually on 1st October.
Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato
This new initiative by Zomato and HDFC Pension, enabled by Kfintech, the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA), aims to secure the financial future of Zomato’s onboarded delivery partners.
HDFC Pension’s vision of securing retirement for Indians complements Zomato’s gig-first approach, which places delivery partners at the center of its business. The collaboration focuses on their future well-being, reflecting Zomato’s commitment to supporting their livelihoods and financial security.
As per NITI Aayog’s report (2022), the number of platform workers in India is estimated to grow to 23.5 million by FY2029-30. Currently, there exists a gap in terms of awareness as well as access to formal retirement benefits for these workers. Due to this reason, the retirement savings rate among this specific section of the workforce is negligible.
This collaboration will now enable those independent gig workers, onboarded on Zomato as delivery partners, to enjoy benefits such as long-term financial security in the form of a lump sum and a monthly pension at retirement, along with flexibilities such as making small, regular contributions. In addition, with a long-term view, the model also provides delivery partners the option of portability, allowing them to carry their benefits forward as they progress in their careers.
Digital integration has been done to make the on-boarding process smooth and hassle-free by using the existing KYC or eKYC of the gig workers, with their consent, at the PRAN generation level. Additional details can be submitted by the gig workers subsequently. More than 30,000 delivery partners onboarded on Zomato have already generated their PRANs (Permanent Retirement Account Numbers) within 72 hours of this integration and the platform is committed to enable over 1 lakh delivery partners with their NPS retirement accounts within 2025.
Speaking on the launch, Sriram Iyer – Managing Director & CEO, HDFC Pension, commented, “We are delighted to bring this offering to gig workers, in collaboration with Zomato. Usually, most individuals start to appreciate the importance of retirement planning as they near retirement. Hence, we constantly endeavour to create awareness on this topic. However, not all individuals have access to formal retirement planning instruments. Through the ‘NPS Platform Workers Model’, such individuals can now start planning for their retirement. This model not only enables them to plan for their retirement but also contributes towards bringing a larger section of our population under the umbrella of long-term financial security. I would like to thank PFRDA for their vision and support in launching this model. I would also like to thank Zomato for their advocacy and initiative in implementing this model for their delivery partners. We strongly believe this will go a long way towards making India ‘Future Sure’.”
Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato, said, “Our delivery partners are at the core of Zomato. With HDFC Pension, we’re taking a step beyond daily livelihood—towards long-term financial security and assurance in retirement. This is part of our larger commitment to building stability and dignity for those who power India’s gig economy.”
Zomato operates on a gig-first model, supporting an average of 5,09,000 independent monthly active delivery partners as of Q1 FY26. The company continues to invest in both industry-first and industry-standard initiatives to enhance the delivery partner experience, including a comprehensive health insurance plan that covers IPD/hospitalization, daycare treatment up to ₹1 lakh, OPD expenses up to ₹5,000, ICU costs, maternity insurance for female delivery partners, and teleconsultations, along with a personal accident cover of up to₹10 lakh - at no cost to partners. Through the delivery partner app, they have access to 24×7 SOS support in more than 800 cities, connecting them to ambulances, police assistance, and a dedicated SOS response team, as well as real-time visibility into their earnings, enabling them to track income from orders, incentives, and tips on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. To support them while on the move, Zomato has set up over 4,500 rest points in collaboration with partner restaurants and at all Blinkit dark stores, offering safe spaces with seating, drinking water, and phone-charging facilities.
