Government think tank Niti Aayog has proposed notification of a national policy on caregiving to formalize and professionalize the sector in India, recommending the creation of a National Caregiver Council (NCC) to serve as the apex institution responsible for regulating, standardising and professionalising caregiving services across the country. According to the study report titled "Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047," the NCC would regulate and accredit caregiver training programmes nationwide and empanel national, state and private institutions engaged in caregiver training. The council would establish minimum standards and guidelines for caregiving services and training programmes, create a comprehensive caregiver training curriculum for different skill levels including both short-term and long-term courses, and develop language and cultural competency training programmes to equip caregivers with regional Indian and foreign language proficiency. The report emphasised the need for expanding social security, welfare benefits and entrepreneurship support for caregivers to improve their working conditions and build a more organized, skilled and sustainable care economy.
The study comes at a time when demand for care and support services is expected to rise sharply with the increase in the country's elderly population. According to the Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047 report, India's elderly population was estimated at 149 million in July 2022, accounting for around 10.5 per cent of India's population, but is projected to more than double to 194 million by 2031 and 347 million by 2050, increasing their share in the population from 10.5% to 20.8%. The report noted that 26.8 million Indians live with disabilities, underscoring the need for an organized caregiving ecosystem. While family care has traditionally been the main source of support in India, demographic changes, rapid urbanisation and shifts in family structures are putting pressure on this conventional model of caring for elderly people. According to Suchita Dutta, executive director of the Indian Staffing Federation, "Structured caregiving frameworks are vital for expanding formal employment and also elevating female workforce participation. Millions engaged in paid care services, including eldercare, childcare and home healthcare remain in the unorganized sector without social security or standardized wages."
The report highlighted that growing global demand for caregivers presents India with a significant opportunity to expand its care network and skilled workforce. The World Health Organization has projected a global shortage of 11 million health and care workers by 2030, creating opportunities for India to emerge as a supplier of trained caregiving professionals. According to the report, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, a group of 38 member-countries, will require 60% more care workers by 2040, which translates into the equivalent to 13.5 million additional workers to maintain current caregiver-to-elderly ratios. To tap this demand, Niti Aayog has proposed strengthening international partnerships and overseas placement mechanisms to position India as a global hub for skilled caregivers. Experts urged policymakers to integrate flexible staffing models and nationwide skill benchmarks under the new council to capitalize on India's expanding $29.62 billion home healthcare market, which is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.76%, reaching $72.31 billion by 2030.
The professionalization of caregiving is expected to significantly boost India's care services market, which is estimated at ₹29.62 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach ₹72.31 billion by 2030, reflecting rising demand for organized care services. According to the report, professionalizing caregiving would improve care for older people, those with disabilities and others requiring long-term support while generating skilled employment, increasing women's labour force participation and positioning India as a trusted global provider of trained caregivers. The report noted that millions engaged in paid care services, including eldercare, childcare and home healthcare remain in the unorganized sector without social security or standardized wages, highlighting the economic opportunity in formalizing this sector. Niti Aayog vice chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri emphasized that "As we formalize and professionalize the sector, we must remain grounded in India's deep social care values. Formal caregiving does not replace the traditional family unit; rather, it complements and strengthens it by providing structured training, respite care, counselling and social support to informal family caregivers."
