GS II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Context: Recently, the NITI Aayog has released the report “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047”.
About Care Economy
- Definition: Paid and unpaid activities providing physical, emotional, psychological and social support to dependent individuals.
- Drivers: Ageing, rising life expectancy, urbanisation, changing family structures and rising female workforce participation.
UPSC Course Fees Online
Care Economy vs Other Economies
- Care Economy: Focuses on care and support services for children, elderly, persons with disabilities and other dependents.
- Silver Economy: Focuses on products and services for the ageing population, such as senior living and geriatric care.
- Purple Economy: Integrates culture, creativity and heritage into economic development.
Need for a Care Ecosystem
- Inclusive Growth: Ensures quality care for vulnerable and dependent groups.
- Demographic Preparedness: Nearly one in five Indians may be aged 60+ by 2050.
- Employment Generation: Creates formal employment, particularly for women and youth.
- Human Capital: Better care improves health, nutrition, education and productivity.
Key Challenges
- Informalisation: Care work remains largely unpaid and women-dominated.
- Skill Gaps: Limited professional training and certification.
- Low Recognition: Care work has inadequate economic and social recognition.
- Institutional Fragmentation: Responsibilities are spread across multiple ministries.
- Infrastructure Deficit: Shortages of eldercare, childcare and rehabilitation facilities.
India’s Initiatives
- National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly: Comprehensive geriatric healthcare.
- Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007: Protection and welfare of elderly persons.
- Mission Shakti: Women’s empowerment and support services.
- National Education Policy, 2020: Vocational education and skill development.
- SHATAYU: Digital monitoring of geriatric healthcare.
- JEEVAN: Community-level elderly health assessment and referral.
- Certificate Course in Caregiving: Develops trained caregivers for persons with disabilities.
UPSC Coaching Classes
Global Frameworks
- International Labour Organization 5R Framework: Recognise, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward and Represent care work.
- United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing: Promotes integrated long-term care.
- World Health Organization Framework: Supports integrated, people-centred care.
- UN Women: Advocates greater investment in the care economy.
Global Best Practices
- Japan: Community-based integrated care and Long-Term Care Insurance.
- Sweden: Universal publicly funded childcare and eldercare.
- Germany: Mandatory Long-Term Care Insurance.
- Singapore: Ageing-in-place and community-based care.
- South Korea: Integrated long-term, home-based and digital care.
Way Forward
- National Care Economy Framework: Integrate health, labour, social justice, women and child development and skilling.
- Professionalise Workforce: Expand training, certification and career progression.
- Social Protection: Ensure fair wages, insurance and social security.
- Care Infrastructure: Promote investment in home-based and institutional care.
- Technology: Leverage tele-care, assistive technologies and artificial intelligence.
- Recognise Unpaid Care: Incorporate Time Use Survey data into policymaking.
Click to Know UPSC Coaching Centres in India
Conclusion
A robust care economy can advance human capital, gender equality, employment and inclusive growth, supporting Viksit Bharat@2047.
8 Aug 2026
