NITI Aayog’s Care Strategy for Viksit Bharat@2047

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

NITI Aayog’s Care Strategy for Viksit Bharat@2047

Context

NITI Aayog released “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047” in August 2026. The report recognises caregiving as an emerging social and economic priority as India’s population ages and demand for support to senior citizens and persons with disabilities rises.

Salient Features

The report proposes moving from a largely informal, family-based system towards a trained, recognised and better-regulated caregiving ecosystem. Key proposals include a National Caregiver Council, standardised education and skill certification, a National Caregiver Registry and digital portal, grievance-redress mechanisms, regional training centres and stronger coordination between the Centre and States. It also recommends promoting community-based care and improving opportunities for Indian caregivers in overseas markets.

Background of the Issue

India’s elderly population is projected to rise from about 149 million in 2022 to 347 million by 2050. Urbanisation, migration and smaller families are weakening traditional arrangements in which relatives provided most care at home. At the same time, unpaid caregiving continues to place a disproportionate burden on women.

India’s Policy Approach

India seeks to treat caregiving not merely as family responsibility but as part of social protection, skilling, employment and human-capital policy. The approach also supports senior citizens, persons with disabilities and women’s economic participation.

Current Status

The report currently provides a policy roadmap rather than a new statutory scheme. Its success will depend on implementation by ministries and States, common training standards, worker protection, financing and effective regulation of care services.

Analytical Questions

1. Why should caregiving be treated as an economic and governance issue, and not only as a family responsibility?

Answer: Caregiving directly affects health, employment and family income. When care work remains unpaid and informal, women often reduce or leave paid work. A proper care system can create jobs, improve service quality and reduce pressure on families. It should therefore be part of social and economic policy.

2. How can a National Caregiver Registry improve the quality of care in India?

Answer: A national registry can identify trained caregivers, verify their skills and connect them with families who need support. It can also improve accountability and reduce fraud. However, the registry will be useful only if certification standards are credible, data is regularly updated and privacy is properly protected.

3. Why is the care economy closely linked with women’s labour force participation?

Answer: Women carry a large share of unpaid care work at home. This limits the time available for paid employment, training and career growth. Affordable childcare, elderly care and professional caregiving services can reduce this burden. As a result, more women may be able to enter or remain in the workforce.

4. India may become a global supplier of trained caregivers. What opportunities and risks does this create?

Answer: It can create jobs, raise remittances and build India’s reputation in health and care services. But large-scale migration may also create shortages at home. India should therefore expand training capacity, protect migrant workers and ensure that international demand does not weaken domestic care services.

5. What should be the main test of success for NITI Aayog’s Care Strategy by 2047?

Answer: Success should not be measured only by the number of trained caregivers or digital registrations. The real test is whether elderly people and persons with disabilities receive affordable, safe and reliable care, caregivers get fair wages and social security, and women face less unpaid care burden at home.