Ageing at the Margins: Power, Policy, and Precarity in India’s Demographic Transition.

Abstract

India is going through a major demographic change, with the number of elderly people expected to cross 194 million by 2031 (Census of India, 2011; UNFPA, 2023). While longer life expectancy is often seen as a sign of development, the everyday lives of older adults, especially those from poor or marginalized backgrounds, show a different picture. Many struggle with health issues, weak income support, and limited social inclusion. This paper looks at the structural and institutional reasons behind these ageing-related problems in India, using secondary data and a political economy lens.

Drawing from the National Sample Survey (NSS 76th Round, 2018), LASI Wave 1 (2020), and other studies, the paper places old-age challenges in a wider context shaped by economic reforms, changing family systems, and shrinking welfare support. It shows that ageing in India is becoming more uncertain, especially for elderly women, rural residents, and people who worked in the informal sector (Kumar et al., 2022; Bloom et al., 2021).

The paper argues that ageing cannot be understood only through health or welfare discussions. Instead, it must be seen within the political economy of care, where reduced state support, growing privatization of health services, and weakening family bonds create new vulnerabilities. The study concludes by calling for a rights-based, community-focused eldercare model that brings together social protection, public health, and intergenerational support to ensure dignity in old age.