MAM
India braces for a grey wave as elderly numbers set to hit 230m by 2036
MUMBAI India’s population is ageing fast. By 2036, roughly 230 million Indians—one in seven—will be 60 or older, more than double the 100 million recorded in 2011. It’s a demographic earthquake that will reshape everything from healthcare to housing, pensions to public transport.
The south is greying fastest. Kerala, already home to 13 per cent elderly in 2011, will see that figure leap to 23 per cent by 2036, matching developed nations. Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh aren’t far behind.
Meanwhile, northern states like Uttar Pradesh, though younger now, are catching up quickly—elderly numbers there will nearly double from 7 per cent to 12 per cent.
Women dominate the demographic. They make up 58 per cent of India’s elderly, with a sex ratio of 1,065 females per 1,000 males. More than half are widows. The overall dependency ratio—62 dependents per 100 working-age people—signals mounting pressure on families and the state.
The challenges are stacked high. Mental health stigma around dementia and Alzheimer’s persists. Geriatric infrastructure is patchy, especially in rural areas. Social security remains inadequate even as living costs climb. Traditional family support systems are fraying under the weight of urbanisation and nuclear households. And India’s infrastructure—from public transport to pavements—remains stubbornly unfriendly to the elderly.
New Delhi is scrambling to respond. The ministry of social justice and empowerment has rolled out a raft of schemes. The Atal Pension Yojana, launched in 2015, has swelled from 15.4 million subscribers in 2019 to 82.7 million by October 2025, managing assets worth over Rs 49,000 crore. It promises monthly pensions of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after subscribers turn 60.
The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens runs 696 old-age homes across 29 states and union territories, with 84 more approved this year. The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana distributes walking sticks, hearing aids, wheelchairs and dentures to low-income seniors. A toll-free helpline—14567—offers support. The Sacred portal helps those over 60 find jobs. The SAGE portal encourages start-ups to develop elderly care solutions, offering equity support of up to Rs 1 crore per project.
Legal muscle backs the effort. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, amended in 2019, compels children—including step-children and in-laws—to provide for parents. It scrapped the Rs 10,000 monthly maintenance cap and mandated special police units for seniors in every district. All hospitals, private included, must now provide dedicated queues, beds and geriatric care.
Technology is pitching in too. Telemedicine platforms like e-Sanjeevani offer free home consultations. Wearable devices track vital signs. Online pharmacies deliver medicines to doorsteps. Smart home sensors let families monitor elderly relatives remotely.
The silver economy—goods and services for those over 50—is booming. Valued at Rs 73,000 crore in 2024, it’s set for multi-fold growth. Globally, senior citizens and professionals aged 45 to 64 are the wealthiest cohort. India’s senior care market presents vast opportunities for health and wellness firms, both at home and abroad.
Yet success hinges on more than schemes and start-ups. India needs specialised regulations for senior care, policy reforms anchored in evaluation frameworks, and better coordination across ministries. Panchayati raj institutions, urban local bodies, NGOs and private providers must work in concert. Public-private collaboration across healthcare is essential.
The clock is ticking. By 2050, India’s elderly population will swell to 319 million, growing at three per cent annually. The country that once prided itself on youthful demographics now faces a greying future. Whether it becomes a burden or a boon depends on how swiftly India adapts. The grey wave is coming. Ready or not.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
