What is the minimum wage in India and who sets it?

India does not have one nationwide minimum wage figure. Minimum wages are fixed and revised by both the central and state governments for different categories of scheduled employment, skill levels, and regions, so the applicable rate depends on the state, the industry, and the type of work. This is why two employers in different states can have very different legal minimums for similar roles.

Under the Code on Wages, a national floor wage concept is introduced — a baseline below which no state’s minimum wage should fall — with states retaining the power to set their own (higher) minimum wages above that floor. Employers must apply the minimum wage notified for the relevant state and employment category, and keep track of periodic revisions, which are typically updated in line with cost-of-living changes.