With as many as 19 ministries and government agencies having a role in different aspects of the caregiving ecosystem for senior citizens, there should be a single nodal ministry or agency for coordination among the stakeholders, said G. Rajagopal, chairman of the Association of Senior Living and Care India, and director and group CEO of Lifebridge Group.Reacting to the NITI Aayog report, “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047”, he said India’s population aged 60 and above is projected to increase from 149 million in 2022 to 347 million by 2050. This has increased the requirement for long-term care and caregiving support.The report lists nine major areas for developing a comprehensive caregiving ecosystem. There is also a need to study if caregiver education, training, and professional standards are anchored by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Such an approach can give caregiving greater professional stature, establish clearer career pathways and help attract much-needed talent into the sector. “Ultimately, caregiving needs to evolve from being viewed largely as informal support work to becoming a recognised profession and an integral part of India’s health and ageing infrastructure,” he said.On the Colliers Report, he said the latest report reinforces the view that senior living in India is moving from a relatively niche category into a meaningful and scalable sector. The market is estimated at around ₹30,000 crore today and is projected to exceed ₹1 lakh crore by 2030,” he said.As against the estimated demand of 20–22 lakh homes, organised supply stands at just around 25,000 units. The expected increase in organised inventory to around one lakh units by 2030, together with over ₹13,000 crore of investment commitments announced since 2025, is a strong indication that developers and institutional capital are beginning to recognise the opportunity, he said.Apart from the emergence of Tier II and III cities and spiritual destinations that account for 30 % to 40% of new projects, the market should look beyond metro cities. “Senior living is transforming from standalone retirement housing to an integrated living-and-care ecosystem. Published - September 05, 2026 10:14 pm IST