NITI Aayog Releases Roadmap to Build a Professional Caregiving Ecosystem by 2047

Ř  NITI Aayog Launches Report on “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047”

·         NITI Aayog released the report "Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047" on 5 August 2026.

·         The report presents a comprehensive roadmap to develop an organised, professional, accessible and future-ready caregiving ecosystem in India.

·         It places caregivers at the centre of the care ecosystem, recognising caregiving as a skilled, dignified and valued profession.

·         The report emphasizes:

o    Improving the quality of care.

o    Professional recognition of caregivers.

o    Workforce welfare.

o    Institutional support.

o    Affordable and reliable care for families and communities.

·         It highlights the need to create a large pool of trained caregivers to meet India's growing domestic demand while tapping opportunities in the global caregiving market.

·         The report was released by Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, in the presence of:

o    Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog.

o    Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog.

o    Senior officials and representatives from Central Ministries, UN agencies, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Labour Organization (ILO), and other stakeholders.

·         Ashok Kumar Lahiri stated that the rising global demand for caregivers provides India with an opportunity to:

o    Become a global leader in caregiving services.

o    Generate substantial employment.

o    Strengthen social security and recognition for caregivers.

o    Enhance India's cultural and knowledge-based soft power.

·         Dr. R. Balasubramaniam emphasized that caregiving reflects India's traditional values of Seva (service) and Samvedana (compassion) and can promote:

o    Social inclusion.

o    Community empowerment.

o    Quality livelihoods.

o    Progress towards Viksit Bharat@2047.

·         The report has been prepared by the Social Justice and Empowerment Division of NITI Aayog based on:

o    Extensive stakeholder consultations.

o    International benchmarking.

o    Surveys.

o    Field visits.

·         It identifies opportunities to position India as a global hub for skilled caregiving services, leveraging its demographic dividend and tradition of compassionate care.

·         The report views caregiving as a key pillar of India's social and economic transformation and an enabler of inclusive and sustainable development.

·         Key recommendations are organised around strategic pillars, including:

o    A National Policy on Caregiving.

o    Establishment of a National Caregiver Council.

o    Professional recognition of caregivers.

o    Workforce development and skill enhancement.

o    Social security for caregivers.

o    Family and community-based care.

o    International cooperation and global mobility of Indian caregivers.

·         The report aims to strengthen institutional convergence, professionalise caregiving, improve access to quality care, and position India as a leading global provider of skilled caregiving services by 2047.

 

<Report on “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047”>

[ABS News Service/06.08.2026]

NITI Aayog released the report titled “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047” at NITI Aayog on 5 August, 2026.

The report presents India’s caregiving ecosystem and outlines a comprehensive roadmap for building an organised, professional, accessible and future-ready system of care. It positions caregivers at the centre of the care ecosystem, recognising caregiving as a skilled, dignified and valued profession, while emphasising quality of care, professional recognition, workforce welfare, institutional support, and enabling families and communities to access reliable and affordable care. The report also underlines the growing need to develop a cadre of trained caregivers to address the current and future demand of care services in the country and also the potential opportunities for Indian caregiver professionals at the global platform.

The report was released by Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog and Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog, and senior officials from NITI Aayog. The launch was attended by the representatives of Central Ministries, viz., Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Institutes, UN agencies such as UNFPA, WHO, UNRC, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, ILO, etc., and other stakeholders providing caregiver training courses/ programs.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, stated that the global demand for caregivers presents a unique opportunity to establish India as a global leader in traditional caregiving, unlock substantial economic value, create employment, strengthen recognition and social security for caregivers, as well as reinforce India's cultural and knowledge-based soft power. He emphasised that the report provides a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen institutional convergence, empower family and professional caregivers, and position India as a global hub for skilled caregiving services.

Dr R. Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog, emphasised that Seva and Samvedana have always been at the heart of India's civilisational ethos, and caregiving reflects these timeless values. He highlighted that a robust caregiving ecosystem would strengthen social inclusion, develop a caring society, empower communities, create quality livelihoods and contribute significantly to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

The report prepared Social Justice and Empowerment Division of NITI Aayog draws upon extensive stakeholder consultations, international benchmarking, surveys, and field visits and identifies opportunities to position India as a global leader in caregiving services.

The report envisions caregiving as a critical pillar of India's social and economic transformation and positions it as an essential enabler of inclusive and sustainable development in the journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047. With the country’s strong belief in traditional compassionate caregiving and the global demand for caregivers, India is at a unique position to capitalize demographic dividend and to explore global opportunities for expanding its care network and skilled workforce.

The report organises its recommendations across several strategic pillars, including policy, professional recognition of caregivers, workforce development, global cooperation, social security, family and community-based care, etc. The Report also presents a roadmap for an organised, professional caregiving ecosystem through a National Policy on Caregiving, and a National Caregiver Council.