India, Oct. 8 -- A new report by Niti Aayog has proposed a national mission to use artificial intelligence (AI) and other new technologies to improve jobs, incomes and social security for India's 49 crore informal workers. Called the Digital ShramSetu Mission, the plan is part of the premier think tank's 'Roadmap on AI for Inclusive Societal Development' report, released on Wednesday.

It lays out a 20-year plan to make small and informal work, such as farming, construction, driving or home-based jobs, more productive and secure. At its core, the roadmap suggests building a digital system that helps workers prove their skills, get paid on time and access benefits. It compares this to how the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) made sending m...