In a significant move ahead of the festive season, YouTube has introduced its affiliate program in India, enabling creators to tag products in their videos and earn referrals. The video streaming giant has partnered with Walmart-owned e-commerce service Flipkart and fashion retailer Myntra to open up their product catalogs to uploaders.

To be eligible for the program, creators must have at least 10,000 subscribers and be part of the partner program. This move allows creators to monetize their content by tagging products they discuss in their videos, shorts, and livestreams.

YouTube has been testing affiliate links in the US since 2022 and has expanded its partnership with Shopify to give creators access to thousands of products. The company has also launched features like shopping collections and an affiliate hub.

The Indian market, with over 400 million YouTube users and 110,000 channels with over 100,000 subscribers, presents a significant opportunity for creators to earn from their content. Praanesh Bhuvaneswar, founder of influencer marketing platform Quroz, welcomes the move, but cautions creators against overselling products.

This development marks a significant milestone in the evolution of entertainment platforms into shopping destinations, offering new revenue streams for creators and brands alike. YouTube's affiliate program is already active in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and its expansion to India is expected to have a significant impact on the country's e-commerce landscape.