India’s demographic shift – Bridging the generation gap

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1 -Society- Social issues.

Introduction

India is ageing faster than before. At least 1 in 10 Indians is 60+ today; nearly 1 in 5 by 2050. This change strains family care, pensions, housing, and health systems. It also exposes a digital gap that can isolate elders. The task is clear: protect dignity, cut loneliness, and keep daily connections. Families, communities, and policy must work together. Patient digital help, intergenerational spaces, and reliable income support can turn tension into trust. India’s demographic shift – Bridging the generation gap.

Status of Ageing Population in India

1. Rising numbers: Elderlies are projected to grow from 100 million (2011) to 230 million (2036) and to nearly 20% by 2050.
2. Dependency ratio: Up from 10.9% (1961) to 14.2% (2011) and is projected to increase to 15.7% (2021) and 20.1% (2031).
3. The HelpAge India survey covered 5,700 respondents across 10 cities (70% youth aged 18–30; 30% elders aged 60+). Youth described elders as “wise” (51%) and “respectable” (43%), but also as “lonely” (56%) and “dependent” (48%). This shows a contrast between respect in words and limited support in practice.
4. Family as the anchor: Most youth expect family living in old age (88%), and most elders do or plan to live with family (83%).

Impact of this demographic shift

Social Challenges

1. Social Neglect- Elderlies are increasingly being neglected by the younger generation due to various social reasons such as western education, globalisation, nuclear families, and a digital gap that limits communication and shared time.
2. Abuse of the elderly population- Elderlies in India face various forms of abuse such as physical, sexual, psychological or financial. They suffer from emotional harm that emerges from verbal or emotional abuse.
3. Intersection of Caste and Elderly- The lower caste elderly have to keep on working for livelihood even at old age due to financial issues. While for the upper caste elderlies, good jobs become less available and they hesitate to take menial jobs which creates a feeling of ‘worthlessness’ amongst them.
4. Feminisation of ageing- The life of elderly widows is riddled with stringent moral codes of the society. Social bias against elderly women results in unjust allocation of resources, neglect, abuse, exploitation, gender-based violence, lack of access to basic services and prevention of ownership of assets.
5. Invisible and unheard: Many elders feel left out of decisions at home—often told the plan, not asked. This creates a sense of being invisible and unheard, which widens emotional distance within families.

Economic and Financial Challenges

1. Lack of Income & Poor financial status- According to PFRDA report on Financial Security of India’s elderly, a large elderly population which remains outside the pension safety net. Furthermore, the pension provided to them remains very low for their proper sustenance.
2. Low funding by the government- India spends only about 1% of its gross domestic product on pensions. India’s income support systems in their current form remain incapable of catering to the old age population.
3. Lack of housing and other basic amenities- The housing available to a majority of the senior citizens are sometimes inappropriate and unsuitable to their requirement.

Health Issues and Challenges

1. Rise in age-related chronic illness- According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) in 2021, One in five elderly persons in India has mental health issues and around 75 per cent of them suffer from a chronic disease.
2. Increasing need for geriatric care- Increased health-related expenses for the treatment of diseases like Non-Communicable diseases, cataract, hearing loss etc. creates financial problem for the elderly population.

Government initiative to overcome this issue

1. National Policy for Older Persons (2011): The policy aims to encourage individuals to make provisions for their own and their spouse during old age, to bring non-governmental organizations for caring for older persons and to provide healthcare facilities to the elderly..
2. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): The scheme provide an old-age pension for persons above the age of 60 years belonging to the BPL category..
3. PM Vaya Vandana Yojana: The scheme aims to provide social security during old age. It also protects elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions.
4. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: The scheme provides Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to the BPL category..
5. Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Initiative and SAGE portal: It aims to help startups interested in providing services for elderly care..

Way forward

1. Family and community actions :

• Turn respect into daily support: schedule a weekly chat, a no-phone meal, and a teach-and-learn session (digital basics from youth; life skills from elders).
• Build community day-centres, youth volunteer clubs, and local check-ins.
• Design intergenerational spaces so that even when care homes are used, family links stay active.
• Channel willingness : With 75% of youth willing to support elder initiatives, create structured roles (library helpers, clinic escorts, digital buddies) so intent becomes weekly action.

2. Formalization of caregiving economy- According to a NITI Aayog report, healthcare offered at home can replace up to 65 per cent of unnecessary hospital visits and reduce hospital costs by 20 per cent. Well-trained caregivers possesing empathetic outlook towards elderly need to be provided formal and better work place conditions. Recognition of “home” as a place for providing care and as a “place of work” for caregivers will be the first step towards elderly care.
3. Comprehensive policy on home based care- This policy must include within its ambit the streamlining of vocational training, nomenclature, roles, and career progression of the caregivers. It must also streamline the registry of caregivers, ensure transparency and accountability and establish grievance redressal mechanisms.
4. Passage of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019- The next session of the parliament must aim to pass this bill which seeks to regulate home-based care for older people.
5. Strengthening pension systems- The government must allocate a special budget for the elderly population to strengthen the pension systems through better funding and coverage.
6. Replication of Switzerland’s time bank initiative- Under this initiative, the younger generation start to save ‘time’ by taking care of senior citizens. Later, they can use the saved ‘time’ when they get old, sick, or in need of someone to take care of them. This initiative must be applied to Indian setup.
7. Raising of retirement age- India should raise the retirement age in the future, in a phased manner so as not to jeopardize opportunities for younger generations.
8. Proactive government policies- The Government should proactively work on lifestyle modification, non-communicable disease management, vision and hearing problem management, and accessible health care of the elderly population in India.

Question for practice:

Examine how India’s ageing population affects intergenerational relations and suggest practical steps to bridge the generation gap.

Source: The Hindu