Stage time is genuinely everything in stand-up comedy, and open mics are where every working comedian, without exception, actually started, so the honest starting point is simply getting on stage repeatedly, since the sheer quantity of reps in front of a live audience matters far more early on than the quality of any single set.
Writing and performing are related but genuinely distinct skills that develop together over time, and it helps to keep a running notes file of observations, ideas and lines as they occur to you throughout the day, rather than trying to sit down and write jokes from a blank page. If performing is not your natural strength but writing is, comedy writing is a viable parallel or alternative path, working in a writers room for a show, freelance sketch writing, or writing for other performers, and this path is often less discussed but genuinely open in Indias growing comedy and streaming industry. Build an online presence with recorded clips only once your material has actually been tested and refined live, not before, since untested material posted online rarely represents your best work and can undercut how you are perceived early on.
Set realistic expectations around timeline and income, since most comedians spend a genuine multi-year stretch of unpaid or very low-paid stage time before comedy becomes a viable primary income, which is why most build it deliberately alongside another job or income source in the early years rather than expecting it to support them immediately.
Example: A student who committed to a weekly open mic for over a year, keeping a running notes file of ideas between sets, gradually built a tight five-minute set and a small local following, well before comedy became any part of their actual income.
One practical tip: Commit to consistent open mic stage time above everything else early on, since the sheer number of live reps in front of a real audience, more than any writing technique alone, is what actually develops a comedians craft and timing.