How to Make Money Online in India for Students?

Making money online as a student in India can seem challenging, but with some effort, creativity and persistence, it is possible. There are now more ways than ever for Indian students to earn money on the side through online platforms, especially with the growth of digital payments and global freelancing websites.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to make money online in India for students through various methods like freelancing, blogging, affiliate marketing, online tutoring and more. Whether you want to earn some pocket money or start building serious income streams, there are options for every Indian student.

Why Make Money Online as a Student

Here are some of the key reasons why making money online can be worthwhile for students in India:

Earn pocket money without needing allowances from parents
Pay for tuition or expenses to reduce burden on parents
Gain financial independence and learn money management
Develop professional skills like communication, writing, social media marketing etc.
Build your resume and portfolio with real world experience
Be your own boss and make money on your own time

Online opportunities allow you to start earning without major commitments or investments. Now let’s explore some of the best ways for Indian students to make money online.

Freelancing

Freelancing has become extremely popular globally, especially with the COVID-19 shifts, and it remains one of the best ways for students in India to earn income online.

There is high demand for talented freelancers to work on projects like:

Content writing
Graphic design
Video editing
Data entry
Web development
Affiliate marketing
Online tutoring

Reputable freelancing websites like Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer let you create profiles highlighting your skills. You can bid on projects posted by clients around the world and earn in foreign currencies.

To succeed as an Indian freelancer:

Build a strong portfolio to showcase talent
Deliver excellent work and maintain good ratings
Be professional and communicate clearly with clients
Stick to deadlines to build long term relationships

Many Indian students earn over ₹50,000 per month through freelancing in their spare time. It takes consistency and patience to establish yourself, but can ultimately provide very lucrative part-time income.

Blog Monetization

Blogging remains hugely popular globally, and India now has over 70 million bloggers! If you can create high-quality, niche blogs around topics you’re passionate about, there is immense money making potential.

Some proven ways students can effectively monetize blogs include:

Google AdSense - Show pay-per-click ads on your blog pages through Google’s massive advertising network
Affiliate marketing – Earn commission by promoting relevant products through affiliate links
Sponsored posts – Get paid by brands to create branded content and reviews on your blog
Sell digital products – Create and sell eBooks, online courses, guides, images, etc.

By generating thousands of visitors through SEO optimization and social media engagement, popular Indian student bloggers have earned lakhs per month. You can also leverage blogs to build authority and land freelancing gigs.

Online Tutoring

India has no shortage of students needing tutoring assistance, especially for competitive exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, CA, ICWA and more. This presents a major opportunity for you to offer online tutoring services in your spare time.

You can register yourself on platforms like Vedantu, Byju’s Classes, TutorVista or SuperProf to provide sessions using video call technologies. Subject matter expertise, strong communication abilities and positive reviews are key to attracting more students on these platforms.

Some proven tips for tutors:

Structure sessions carefully with clear learning goals
Engage students through discussions, activities, tests etc.
Provide additional learning resources for students to review
Stay patient and adjust teaching methods based on feedback

You can earn ₹1,000 – ₹1,500 per hour in the beginning or even more as you build experience and ratings. It serves the dual purpose of making money online while sharpening your own mastery over key subject areas.

YouTube Monetization

YouTube presents talented creators the opportunity to build online video businesses with massive reach. Though it requires plenty of work, Indian students have built channels with millions of subscribers through consistent quality content on diverse topics.

Your earning potential depends on viewership volume and factors like:

Google AdSense – Earn a cut when viewers see or click on ads displayed before/during your videos
Brand sponsorships – Big brands will pay you to review products or create branded content
Fan funding – Fans pay you small amounts through channels like SuperChat or float tip jars

Many factors like video SEO, metadata optimization, collaborations, consistency etc. go into building highly discoverable and engaging channels. But with dedication, you can start monetizing your niche through YouTube.

Phone Pe/ Google Pay Promotions

Payment apps like Phone Pe and Google Pay now let students easily earn cash in their wallet balances by promoting the apps.

You simply need to share referral codes with friends and family. When they sign up using your code and complete the required activity like first payment, money transfer etc., you will receive cash rewards.

Phone Pe offers rewards between ₹25 – ₹75 per referral
Google Pay offers between ₹51 – ₹101 per referral

For tech savvy students, earning a few hundred or thousand rupees per month through such app referrals provides easy supplemental income through minimal efforts.

Conclusion

We have just explored some of the most popular and accessible ways for Indian students to make money online through freelancing, blogging, tutoring, YouTube and even payment app promotions.

The key is to:

Identify your skills, resources and interests
Choose money making methods most aligned to them
Put in consistent efforts over weeks and months
Provide excellent quality and service always

Earnings may seem modest initially but can compound significantly over time through your passion, commitment and visibility.

The world is truly your playground online; leverage it strategically to make money that provides stability, freedom and fulfillment alongside your education.

FAQs

Q1. How much money can an Indian student make online?

Indian students can realistically make ₹10,000 – ₹50,000 per month online or even exceed that through freelancing, blogging, tutoring and other methods discussed after investing significant efforts. Earnings potential is very high through the power of digital income sources.

Q2. Which website is best for students to earn money online in India?

Websites like Fiverr, Freelancer and Upwork are best for Indian students to find freelancing gigs globally in areas like content writing, programming, graphic design etc while platforms like Vedantu and Byju's are ideal for offering tutoring services. Blogging platforms like Blogger make it easy to start blogs to be monetized later.

Q3. Can students earn money from YouTube in India?

Yes, Indian students can absolutely earn money on YouTube through Google AdSense monetization once they build channels with thousands of subscribers and lakhs of views. Consistent quality content, promotions and persistence are key. Brand sponsorships on YouTube also offer lucrative earning potential later on.

Q4. Is freelancing right for Indian students?

Freelancing is highly recommended for students in India as global opportunities are booming on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. It allows students to earn attractive income in USD/EUR/GBP currencies through gigs requiring skills like content writing, coding, video editing, web design etc. done remotely online.

Q5. Can students earn while studying in India?

Yes, the best part about online income sources like blogging, freelancing, tutoring, affiliate marketing etc is that they allow students in India to earn thousands of rupees per month on the side even while studying full time. Efficient time management is however essential.

Q6. What are the online jobs students can do from home?

Some popular online jobs students can do from their homes in spare time include blogging, coding, web design, app testing, online surveys, data entry, virtual assistance, language tutoring, social media marketing, online tutoring, affiliate marketing, data entry etc. which provide flexible earning options.

Q7. Is it safe for students to freelance in India?

It is generally quite safe for Indian students to start freelancing if they take basic precautions - have formal contracts before beginning projects, avoid sharing personal/bank details early on, don't make major upfront investments, follow client payment schedules, and maintain professionalism always. Leading global freelancing platforms also offer support and protection.

Q8. Can Indian students open PayPal accounts?

Students over 18 years can open validated PayPal accounts in India with parent consent and identity documents under PayPal's student accounts program. This allows them to receive payments securely from global clients for freelancing services provided. Students under 18 cannot open PayPal accounts directly but parents can open institutional accounts.

Q9. Do I need a company for freelancing in India?

No, students in India can start freelancing directly without needing to register a company given it is an independent activity. However, beyond ₹10 lakh/year in freelancing income, it is advisable to register oneself as a freelancer service provider for taxation and other benefits.

Q10. Which freelancing sites are best for students in India?

Websites including Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Flexiple, Truelancer and Guru are best suited for Indian students to find lucrative beginner-level global freelancing opportunities like blog writing, graphic design, web development etc. where they can easily register themselves using school/college IDs.

Key Takeaways

Here are the core methods for students in India to make money online:

Freelancing services like content writing, coding, graphic design etc. globally
Monetizing blogs through advertisements, affiliates, products, sponsors etc.
Offering online tuition through platforms like Byju's, Vedantu, Superprof etc.
YouTube monetization through ads, sponsors, fan funding
Promoting payment apps like Google Pay and Phone Pe

Putting in consistent efforts through online money making methods aligned to your skills and interests can help Indian students earn anywhere from ₹10,000 to over ₹50,000 per month potentially. Identify and back yourself!