a) India is undergoing a profound demographic shift—one that deserves immediate attention.

Driven by improvements in healthcare, economic growth and education, and their consequent impacts on life expectancy and birth rates, India is shifting from being one of the world’s youngest societies to the world’s oldest.

b) Such a transformation requires us to reimagine what India’s future looks like. Our thinking needs to be expansive across all spheres of society, and we must learn from innovative examples from other countries.

c) This is an opportune moment to make investments in this new future.

d)Prioritising these investments can drive immense benefits not just for older adults, but for the entire country.

e)Unpacking what we mean by “longevity”

a) Older adults across India are redefining what it means to grow older.

Millions of older adults across the country are bucking established norms associated with growing older, such as retiring from work and public life. They are combining their experience, knowledge and wisdom with innovations in digital technology, social media and the increase in the number of platforms to explore their aspirations to build more meaningful and vibrant lives for themselves. The data is sparse and research is still emerging, but we are seeing the following

b) In urban India, older adults are increasingly pursuing second careers, engaging in community activities, and taking up new hobbies.

c) In rural areas, older adults are sustaining community practices while adopting new technologies and ideas.

d) These stories are positive and encouraging, but not yet the norm. Across the four dimensions of longevity, most older adults in India experience challenging life circumstances.

e) Some groups of older adults face more severe inequalities and hardships.

f) Finally, the status quo is also untenable for many older adults’ caregivers.

a) Families consider caring for older adults their filial duty and older adults want to stay with their children and grandchildren.

India’s approach to caring for older adults differs significantly from Western nations. While Western countries emphasise individual independence and provide state-supported senior care infrastructure, in India, growing older is associated with interdependence where the family is typically seen as responsible for care as people age. This perspective is reinforced by religious texts across faiths that equate parent care with divine service and position elderly family members as custodians of tradition and wisdom.72 This cultural outlook persists today, with 75% of older adults and 84% of caregivers believing that families should be responsible for the care of older adults. Limited social security benefits and senior care facilities further reinforce this family-centred model. Although urbanisation and work-related migration are gradually influencing these attitudes, the fundamental expectation of children providing physical and financial support for ageing parents remains ingrained in Indian society.

b) Cultural beliefs also emphasise growing older as a time for older adults to seek spiritual wisdom over material pursuits.

c) Older adults and their families often eschew actions like engaging in preventive health and participating in public life.

d) These narratives are limiting and collectively holding us back from recognising the immense contributions that older adults are making to society.

e) A new narrative would anchor on the notion that growing older can and should mean what older adults want it to mean.

a) A large and vibrant samaaj is hard at work to improve the quality of life of older adults.

The NITI Aayog Darpan portal lists more than 39,000 voluntary or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are focused on supporting older adults. Apart from these NGOs, there is a diverse group of samaaj organisations including faith-based organisations, social enterprises, formal and informal citizen groups, and academia that are leading efforts to improve the quality of life for older adults. They are effectively leveraging their proximity to communities (e.g., NGOs) and trust among older adults (e.g., in faith-based organisations). The freedom to pilot and innovate (e.g., for social enterprises) is enabling them to drive efforts across all four dimensions that define the quality of life of older adults. Since they are at the forefront of many shifts in this sector, we are collectively terming this group the samaaj innovators (SIs).

b) Sarkaar: Embracing longevity in policy action

c) Bazaar: A new wave of entrepreneurial activity targeting older adults

a) There are three opportunity areas that samaaj innovators can pursue.

Based on an understanding of where older adults are today, the gaps that exist in the ecosystem and input from several experts, we have identified three areas to strengthen the longevity ecosystem in the country.

b) Caregiving: An opportunity for philanthropy to support integrated solutions for older adults and all of society.