View article

India is undergoing unprecedented demographic changes. Increasing longevity and falling fertility have resulted in a dramatic increase in the population of adults aged 60 and up, in both absolute and relative terms. This change presents wide-ranging and complex health, social, and economic challenges, both current and future. This chapter lays out the context, scope, and magnitude of India’s demographic changes. It then details the major challenges these shifts pose in the interconnected areas of health, gender, and income security. We also present an overview of India’s recent and ongoing initiatives to adapt to population aging and provide support to older adults and their families. We conclude with policy recommendations that may serve as a productive next step forward.