India is ageing rapidly even as it continues to develop economically. A new study by Transform Rural India (TRI) estimates that one in five Indians—around 347 million people—will be aged over 60 by 2050. Nearly 70% of older adults are expected to live in rural areas.
Moreover, the number of working-age people supporting each older person is projected to fall from 8.4 in 2001 to 5.2 in 2026, increasing pressure on families and the economy.
Rural Families Face Rising Care Burden
As families become smaller, younger people migrate for work and life expectancy rises, traditional family-based elderly care faces growing pressure. Around 94% of elderly care still takes place within households, the study noted.
As per Economic Times, women currently spend about 305 minutes a day on unpaid care work, compared with just 56 minutes for men. This imbalance also limits women’s participation in the workforce.
Healthcare Needs to Adapt
Meanwhile, India’s disease burden is changing. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer account for about two-thirds of deaths, while ageing and disability are creating longer-term care needs.
Therefore, the study argues that India must move beyond hospital-based and episodic healthcare toward long-term, community-based care.
Community Care Could Create Jobs
TRI has proposed a “neighbourhood of care” model that connects Gram Panchayats, self-help groups, ASHA workers, Anganwadi centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The approach aims to bring integrated care closer to rural households without requiring entirely new infrastructure.
Furthermore, the study estimates that investing 2% of India’s GDP in the care economy could create around 11 million jobs, particularly for rural women.