Context

• India’s development over the past decade has focused on highways, metro networks, electrification and digital platforms.
• However, the care economy remains an overlooked foundation of economic and social progress.
• Childcare, eldercare and support for persons with disabilities are essential for human well-being, gender equality and economic participation.
• As India pursues Viksit Bharat 2047, care must become an integral part of its development strategy.

The Importance of the Care Economy

• Care as a Foundation of Economic Development
  • Care is a universal need that influences individuals’ opportunities and participation in society.
  • When formal services are unavailable, families, particularly women, bear the burden of unpaid care work, sacrificing employment, education and personal development.
  • Recognising care as social infrastructure would support productivity, employment and inclusive growth.
• Women's Employment and Unpaid Care Work
  • According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025, 44.4% of women outside the labour force cited childcare and homemaking as their primary reason for not working.
  • The Time Use Survey 2024 found that 41% of women aged 15–59 provided unpaid care, spending an average of 140 minutes daily.
  • Affordable care services can improve women's economic empowerment, increase workforce participation and strengthen household incomes.
• The Growing Need for Care Services
  • Population ageing, urbanisation and changing family structures are increasing demand for organised care.
  • India needs accessible services for children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, alongside support for families and caregivers.

India's Existing Care Framework

• Government Programmes and Institutional Support
  • The Anganwadi network, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 support early childhood development and nutrition.
  • Palna, under Mission Shakti, supports crèches, while Mission Vatsalya addresses child protection.
  • Social security provisions also support older persons and persons with disabilities.
• Fragmentation Across Ministries
  • Care programmes operate across multiple Ministries without adequate coordination.
  • This creates service gaps, such as childcare facilities closing before factory shifts end.
  • India needs coordinated governance to connect existing initiatives and improve service delivery.

Four Major Gaps in India's Care Economy

• Fragmentation of Policies and Programmes
  • Dispersed responsibilities create overlapping initiatives and inadequate coverage.
  • A unified framework should establish common standards, clarify institutional responsibilities and strengthen coordination between Union, State and local governments.
• Inadequate Coverage of Care Services
  • The UNDP estimates that 9-10 million women in low-income urban households need childcare.
  • Additionally, 24% of older persons face limitations in daily activities.
  • Better data collection, service mapping and targeted investment are necessary to reach underserved communities.
• Weak Recognition and Protection of Care Workers
  • Anganwadi workers, home-based caregivers and domestic workers frequently face inadequate remuneration and limited employment security.
  • Professional certification, decent working conditions, social protection and career pathways can recognise care as skilled work and improve service quality.
• Insufficient Financing and Traditional Gender Norms
  • Care is often treated as welfare expenditure rather than productive investment.
  • The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has recommended statutory paid paternity leave in the private sector.
  • Shared caregiving responsibilities and adequate financing can strengthen gender equality.

International Experiences and Lessons for India

• Colombia's 2025 National Care Policy coordinates 34 government entities.
• Brazil's national care policy and plan establish inter-Ministerial mechanisms, while Nepal uses care mapping to develop pilot projects.
• These examples demonstrate the importance of integrated governance, evidence-based planning and adequate financing.

The Way Forward

• Establishing a National Caregiving Council
  • NITI Aayog's Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047 proposes a National Caregiving Council to coordinate policies, establish standards and monitor implementation.
• Developing a National Care Economy Mission
  • A proposed National Care Economy Mission, discussed at a national workshop in May 2026, could align financing, shared data and inter-Ministerial governance.
• Preparing State-Level Care Roadmaps
  • States should map demographic trends, existing services and local needs.
  • Costed care roadmaps with clear responsibilities and measurable targets can address gaps in childcare, eldercare and disability support.
• Strengthening Partnerships, Skills and Innovation
  • Government, civil society and businesses should collaborate to expand services, train care workers and support women-led childcare enterprises.
  • Digital information systems and professional training can improve accessibility and accountability.

Conclusion

• India has several care-related programmes but needs a coherent, adequately financed and accountable care system.
• Treating care as essential economic infrastructure can increase women's employment, create dignified jobs and improve household well-being.
• Giving care the same importance as transport, electricity and digital connectivity is vital for inclusive growth, gender equality and sustainable development under Viksit Bharat 2047.