Earning when you start with nothing.

Carrying passengers on your own two-wheeler through an app, paid per ride. Whether it is even legal depends on your state, so check that before anything else.

Picking up restaurant orders and delivering them, paid per order with incentives. Open to anyone with a two-wheeler and a phone, but real income has been falling.

Delivering groceries from a dark store to homes nearby, paid per order. Quick to start if you have a two-wheeler, but fuel and repairs come out of your own pocket.

LIC's scheme for women to become insurance agents, with a monthly stipend for the first three years on top of commission. The stipend continues only if sales targets are met.

A simpler insurance licence for selling ready-made policies such as two-wheeler, car and basic health cover from your phone. The easiest agency to enter, with small commission per policy.

Selling life insurance policies for one insurer and earning a commission on each premium. Costs almost nothing to enter, but the income depends on how many people trust you enough to buy.

Bringing buyers and sellers, or tenants and landlords, together for a brokerage on each deal. Needs local knowledge and patience more than money, and a RERA registration to sell flats in projects.

Teaching neighbourhood children at your own home for a monthly fee. Needs no money and no licence, only your own schooling, patience and two free hours in the evening.

Showing a supplier's products to your own contacts on WhatsApp, adding your margin and having the supplier ship directly. No stock to buy, but margins are thin and returns are your problem.

Running the neighbourhood Anganwadi centre for young children and mothers: pre-school, hot meals, weighing and records. A fixed monthly honorarium from the centre and the state, but not a government job.

A woman from the village or basti who links families to the health system: pregnancies, newborns, vaccination, TB and more. Paid per task plus a small fixed amount, not a salary.

A self-help group member trained to do basic banking for her village: deposits, withdrawals and transfers on a small machine. Paid by the bank per transaction, sometimes with support from the state mission at the start.

On-the-job training in a company or government unit for six months to a few years, with a monthly stipend fixed by law and a certificate at the end. The one option here that pays you while giving you a skill.

Buying and selling shares or options within the day, hoping to live off the difference. The market regulator's own studies show that about nine in ten individuals lose money doing it.

Buying a company's products and recruiting others to do the same, with income promised from your 'team'. The published income data of such companies shows most participants earn little or nothing.

Offers of easy money for typing, form filling, liking videos or rating hotels from home. Almost all of those that reach you by message or advertisement are frauds that end with you paying them.