Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Niti Aayog proposes national caregiving policy, regulator for care economy
India has a group of experts called Niti Aayog that helps the government plan for the future.
The group says India needs more trained people to take care of the elderly and those with disabilities.
They want the government to make a special plan called the National Policy on Caregiving.
The plan would create a council to train, certify and regulate caregivers.
They also want a website and a registry to connect families with trusted caregivers.
This matters because India's older population will more than double by 2050.
Today there are about 149 million elderly people, and by 2050 there will be about 347 million.
Other countries will also need more caregivers, so Indian workers could find jobs abroad.
The plan wants caregivers to get fair pay, social security and better working conditions.
Niti Aayog has called for a National Policy on Caregiving to formalize and professionalize India's caregiving sector.
The government think-tank proposed a National Caregiver Council to accredit caregivers, standardize training and regulate the sector.
India's elderly population is projected to more than double from 149 million in 2022 to 347 million by 2050.
The report proposed a National Digital Caregiving Portal and a caregiver registry to connect caregivers with care seekers.
India's care services market is estimated to grow from $29.62 billion in 2023 to $72.31 billion by 2030, at a 13.76% CAGR.
- Who
- Niti Aayog, India's government think-tank, led by vice chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri, with expert input such as Indian Staffing Federation executive director Suchita Dutta.
- What
- Called for a National Policy on Caregiving, proposing a National Caregiver Council, a professional caregiver cadre, a digital portal and a caregiver registry.
- When
- The report, 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047', was released on Wednesday.
- Where
- India, announced from New Delhi.
- Why
- To formalize and professionalize the caregiving sector as India's elderly population is projected to more than double by 2050 and global demand for care workers grows.
- Report Title
- Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047
- Recommending Body
- Niti Aayog
- Proposed Regulator
- National Caregiver Council
- Elderly Population (2022)
- 149 million (10.5% of population)
- Elderly Population Projection (2050)
- 347 million (20.8% of population)
- Indians Living with Disabilities
- 26.8 million
- Home Healthcare Market
- $20 billion
- Care Services Market (2023 to 2030)
- $29.62 billion to $72.31 billion (13.76% CAGR)
