NITI Aayog's Roadmap for a Professionalized Care Economy in India

As India marches toward its 'Viksit Bharat@2047' vision, NITI Aayog has released a landmark report titled 'Reimagining Care in Viksit Bharat@2047.' The report addresses the critical need to formalize the care economy, which has historically remained unorganized and largely dependent on unpaid domestic labor, primarily performed by women. With a rapidly aging population and increasing requirements for disability support, the current informal care structure is becoming unsustainable.

The core of the proposal is the establishment of a 'National Caregiver Council.' This statutory or regulatory body is envisioned to act as a nodal agency for standardizing caregiving services, certifying professionals, and ensuring quality control. By professionalizing the sector, the government aims to achieve a dual objective: providing high-quality, dignified care to the elderly and disabled, and creating a massive pool of skilled human resources that can be exported globally. This aligns with India’s demographic dividend, transforming the care sector into a significant engine for employment generation and economic growth.

The roadmap emphasizes that care work is not merely a social obligation but a vital economic activity. By integrating care into the formal economy, the policy seeks to reduce the 'care burden' on women, thereby facilitating greater female labor force participation. Furthermore, the report suggests that by setting global standards for training and certification, India can position itself as a premier supplier of care professionals to countries facing severe labor shortages in the health and social care sectors.

For policymakers, this initiative represents a shift from viewing care as a private family matter to recognizing it as a public good that requires state intervention, infrastructure, and regulation. The success of this roadmap will depend on the effective convergence of health, education, and labor policies, ensuring that the care ecosystem is inclusive, accessible, and economically viable.