Balancing Rights and Regulation: An Analysis of India's Street Vendors Act and its Implementation

This article critically examines India's Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, highlighting its implementation challenges and broader implications for urban governance. It analyses how this Act attempts to balance vendors' livelihood rights with public space management, revealing tensions between formalisation benefits and informal economy flexibility. The article identifies key issues including delays in forming Town Vending Committees, inconsistent application across jurisdictions, and conflicts with existing laws. These challenges underscore larger questions about inclusive urban development and informal sector regulation in rapidly urbanising contexts. By examining judicial interpretations and on-ground realities, the article offers insights into the complexities of translating progressive legislation into effective practice. It proposes reforms aimed at strengthening implementation mechanisms, enhancing stakeholder participation, and promoting economic empowerment, contributing to ongoing debates on informal economy management in the Global South.