YouTube just gave India’s live-streaming crowd a whole new way to say “we love you” and it comes wrapped in vada pav. The platform’s new Gifts feature lets viewers send animated virtual presents to creators during vertical live streams in real time, right as the action happens. Picture floating chai cups and pani puri popping up on screen, a lot more fun than just hitting a thumbs-up.
How it actually works
Viewers buy virtual currency called Jewels, then use them to send these animated Gifts mid-stream. On the other end, creators collect Rubies which represent the actual earnings from those gifts. It’s a straightforward system, but the real charm is in the details.
A very desi lineup
Rather than just reusing the same generic stickers everyone else gets, YouTube actually built this set with Indian audiences in mind. Want to show some love? Send a Vada Pav, Chai Toast, or Pani Puri. Feeling celebratory? There’s Badhai Ho, Kem Cho, Macha, and even an All Izz Well to toss into the chat. It’s a small touch, but it lands. These aren’t random emojis they’re phrases and foods people actually use to cheer each other on. YouTube says more seasonal Gifts are already in the pipeline.
Why now?
India’s creator economy isn’t just growing it’s maturing fast. YouTube says the number of Indian channels earning six-figure annual revenue has jumped over 20% year-on-year. Even more telling: 92% of surveyed Indian creators say the platform genuinely helps them build community with their audience.
That’s really the point here. Watching has turned into participating viewers are tipping, reacting, and getting involved as it all happens live. Gifts now sits alongside tools like Channel Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks, giving creators even more ways to earn from their communities.
Gaming creator Naman Mathur, better known as MortaL, welcomed the update. He pointed out that having multiple ways to connect with fans completely changes the feel of a stream. For him, it’s not just about the money these tools actually push creators to stream longer and go deeper with their communities.
Getting started is simple
Eligible creators can head to the Earn hub inside YouTube Studio, follow the setup steps, and accept the new Virtual Items Module. Once that’s done, Gifts switch on automatically for eligible live streams no extra setup needed per broadcast. One trade-off worth knowing: turning on Gifts means giving up Super Stickers on live streams, since Gifts effectively takes over that role.
The bigger picture
This isn’t just a fun little feature drop. It’s YouTube making it clear that India is one of its most important creator markets, one where live streaming has become the backbone of gaming, entertainment, education, and lifestyle content. And as platforms fight harder to keep creators loyal, virtual gifting is fast becoming the go-to way to keep both fans and creators locked into the moment not just the video itself.
For now, though, it’s the little cultural touches a Kem Cho here, a Pani Puri there that are getting people talking.
