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Recent Developments:

• NITI Aayog has released the report "Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047", presenting a comprehensive roadmap to professionalise India's caregiving ecosystem through policy reforms, skill development, technology integration, institutional strengthening and global partnerships.
• The report recommends establishing a National Policy on Caregiving, a National Caregiver Council (NCC), nationally standardised caregiver certification and stronger social security while positioning India as a global hub for skilled caregivers amid rising domestic and international demand for long-term care services.

About the NITI Aayog Report:

Overview:

• The report presents a long-term strategy to transform caregiving into a recognised professional sector capable of generating employment, improving quality of care and strengthening India's human capital.
• It identifies caregiving as an important pillar for achieving Viksit Bharat@2047 by addressing demographic transition, expanding the care economy and promoting inclusive development.
• The report advocates integrating caregiving with healthcare, skill development, social protection, digital governance and international labour mobility.

Objectives:

• Build a professional and future-ready caregiving workforce.
• Improve accessibility and quality of long-term care services.
• Reduce the burden of unpaid caregiving.
• Enhance women's economic participation.
• Position India as a global supplier of skilled caregivers.

Why India Needs an Organised Caregiving Ecosystem:

Managing Demographic Transition:

• India is experiencing rapid population ageing, with the population aged 60 years and above projected to increase from 149 million in 2022 to nearly 347 million by 2050, accounting for approximately 20.8% of the total population.
• The growing prevalence of chronic diseases, dementia, disability and age-related illnesses is significantly increasing demand for geriatric, palliative, home-based and long-term care services.
• Nearly 10% of India's population currently serves as family caregivers, most of whom remain untrained and unpaid.

Addressing the Global Care Deficit:

• Ageing populations and workforce shortages are creating an unprecedented global demand for professional caregivers.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the world could face a shortage of nearly 11 million health workers by 2030.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are expected to require nearly 13.5 million additional care workers by 2040, creating significant employment opportunities for India.

Harnessing the Care Economy:

• The World Economic Forum (2024) estimates that the care economy accounts for nearly 16% of global employment.
• Unpaid care work contributes approximately USD 11 trillion annually to the global economy without formal economic recognition.
• India's care services market is projected to grow from USD 29.62 billion in 2023 to USD 72.31 billion by 2030, indicating substantial employment and investment potential.

Promoting Women's Economic Empowerment:

• Women perform a disproportionately large share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities in India.
• According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) Time Use Survey 2024, 41% of women aged 15–59 participated in caregiving activities compared with 21.4% of men.
• Women spent approximately 140 minutes daily on caregiving compared with 74 minutes by men, highlighting the gendered nature of unpaid care work.
• Formalisation of caregiving can reduce unpaid work, improve female labour force participation and create dignified employment opportunities.

Strengthening Demographic Dividend:

• Professionalising caregiving can transform India's large working-age population into a globally competitive skilled workforce.
• Expanding caregiving skills can simultaneously address domestic social needs and international labour market demand.

Enhancing Global Competitiveness:

• Countries such as Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and several OECD members are experiencing rapid population ageing.
• Standardised caregiver training and ethical international mobility pathways can strengthen employment generation, remittance inflows and India's global soft power.

Promoting Inclusive Growth:

• A structured caregiving ecosystem can improve access to quality care for elderly persons, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and other vulnerable groups.
• The report also promotes the Purple Economy by encouraging trained Persons with Disabilities to participate as professional caregivers.

Care Economy:

Meaning:

• The Care Economy comprises both paid and unpaid activities that support health, well-being, independent living and human development.
• It includes caregiving delivered through households, public institutions, private enterprises, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), non-profit organisations and community-based institutions.
• Professionalisation of caregiving can increase productivity, create skilled employment and contribute to long-term economic growth.

Constitutional Basis:

• Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance in cases of old age, sickness, disability and other vulnerable conditions.
• Professional caregiving also advances the constitutional objective of promoting the right to work and social justice.

India's Existing Caregiving Ecosystem:

Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE):

• Implements the PM Special – Training of Geriatric Caregivers programme.
• Operates the SHATAYU Dashboard and JEEVAN App to strengthen elderly care services.

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD):

• Conducts the Certificate Course in Caregiving (CCCG) through the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):

• Implements the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE).
• National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) regulates allied healthcare professionals.
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) provides specialised training in geriatric and dementia care.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA):

• Promote National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) aligned caregiver certification.
• Support international Government-to-Government (G2G) mobility programmes and Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) for overseas employment.

State-Level Innovations:

• Karnataka provides a Carer's Monthly Allowance Scheme and supports caregivers through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Kerala has introduced K4Care, Aswasakiranam, Neighbourhood Network in Palliative Care and the Triple Win Programme with Germany.

Care Economy, Silver Economy and Purple Economy:

Care Economy:

• Encompasses paid and unpaid care provided to children, elderly persons, sick individuals and Persons with Disabilities.

Silver Economy:

• Refers to economic activities related to goods and services demanded by or designed for the ageing population.

Purple Economy:

• Promotes active participation of Persons with Disabilities as productive contributors, including as trained caregivers, rather than viewing them only as welfare beneficiaries.

Care Economy and Monetised Economy:

Key Differences:

• The Care Economy largely consists of unpaid, invisible work that is generally excluded from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimation.
• The Monetised Economy includes market-based production of goods and services that directly contributes to Gross Domestic Product.
• Care work primarily supports human well-being and human capital formation, whereas the monetised economy focuses on market transactions.
• Care work is predominantly performed by women and receives limited legal recognition, contractual protection and social security compared with formal employment.

Key Recommendations of NITI Aayog:

National Policy on Caregiving:

• Formulate a dedicated National Policy on Caregiving to formalise the caregiving sector and strengthen Centre-State coordination.

National Caregiver Council (NCC):

• Establish the National Caregiver Council (NCC) as the apex institution responsible for accreditation, certification, caregiver registry, grievance redressal and standard setting.

Professionalise the Workforce:

• Introduce NSQF-aligned certification.
• Develop nationally standardised curricula.
• Create specialised caregiver cadres for geriatric, palliative and dementia care.
• Integrate caregiving modules into education and digital learning platforms.

Promote Global Mobility:

• Expand ethical Government-to-Government (G2G) partnerships with countries such as Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia.
• Strengthen language training, international certification and reintegration mechanisms for returning caregivers.

Strengthen Institutions:

• Enhance the capacities of Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Sector Skill Councils, National Centre for Ageing and Regional Geriatric Centres.
• Standardise caregiver training across institutions.

Extend Social Security:

• Provide caregivers with health insurance, accident insurance and social security under the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008.
• Promote caregiving entrepreneurship through Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Startup India.

Support Family and Community Care:

• Reduce unpaid caregiving burdens by strengthening family caregivers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) supported community initiatives.

Improve Caregiver Welfare:

• Introduce statutory care leave.
• Expand respite-care services.
• Promote workplace sensitisation and counselling support to reduce caregiver burnout.

Leverage Technology:

• Develop a National Digital Caregiver Portal with caregiver registry, background verification, multilingual digital learning and technology-enabled service delivery.

Global Best Practices:

Japan:

• Operates Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) and dedicated visa pathways for trained caregivers.

Australia:

• Provides nationally standardised caregiver training, certification and digital dementia-care modules.

China:

• Integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics into elderly care while developing international standards for elder-care robots.

Sweden, Denmark:

• Follow a shared responsibility model involving the State, families, communities and private sector for comprehensive care delivery.

Way Forward:

Priority Measures:

• Establish a comprehensive national caregiving policy supported by uniform regulatory standards.
• Expand professional caregiver training linked with international quality benchmarks.
• Integrate caregiving with healthcare, social protection, digital governance and skill development programmes.
• Promote ethical international mobility through structured Government-to-Government (G2G) partnerships.
• Strengthen institutional capacity, technology adoption and financial support for caregivers.
• Recognise caregiving as productive economic activity contributing to human capital, gender equality, employment generation and inclusive development.

Value Addition for UPSC:

Important Facts:

• Report: Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047.
• Released By: NITI Aayog.
• Constitutional Basis: Article 41, Directive Principles of State Policy.
• Projected Elderly Population (2050): 347 million (20.8%).
• Global Health Worker Shortage (WHO): Nearly 11 million by 2030.
• Additional Care Workers Required in OECD Countries: 13.5 million by 2040.
• Care Economy Share in Global Employment: Approximately 16%.
• India's Care Services Market: USD 29.62 billion (2023) to USD 72.31 billion (2030).
• Core Institutional Recommendation: National Policy on Caregiving, National Caregiver Council (NCC) and National Digital Caregiver Portal