India's Care Economy: Need for National Framework and Workforce to Achieve Viksit Bharat 2047

India lacks a unified national care ecosystem, with services fragmented across ministries, impacting women's workforce participation. NITI Aayog proposes a National Caregiving Council; the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is consulting States and Union Territories on a National Care Economy Mission, with UNDP supporting the agenda.

• 🧩Fragmented Framework

  Care services are split across multiple ministries without a common coordinating framework, creating implementation gaps.

• 👩‍💼Women's Workforce Barrier

  44.4% of women outside the labour force cite childcare and homemaking as the primary reason, highlighting the care economy's critical role.

• 🏛️Proposed Governance

  NITI Aayog proposes a National Caregiving Council, and the government is consulting on a National Care Economy Mission for inter-ministerial coordination.

Care Economy

The sector of the economy involving paid and unpaid care work, including childcare, eldercare, and care for persons with disabilities, which contributes to human capital formation and societal well-being.

Viksit Bharat 2047

The government's vision to transform India into a developed nation by the year 2047, the 100th year of independence, encompassing economic, social, and governance milestones.

Mission Shakti

An umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development for the safety, security, and empowerment of women, which includes the 'Palna' component for crèche support.

• Data: 44.4% of women outside labour force due to care work (PLFS 2025) and 140 minutes/day unpaid care by women (Time Use Survey 2024).
• Nodal Body: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (consulting on National Care Economy Mission).
• Report: 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047' by NITI Aayog.

1. Q1Easy

   Which ministry is currently consulting States and Union Territories on a potential National Care Economy Mission, as per the article?

   • AMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs
   • BMinistry of Labour and Employment
   • CMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment
   • DMinistry of Women and Child Development
2. Q2Hard

   Consider the following statements regarding India's care economy:

   1. 1.According to Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025, a majority of women outside the labour force cite lack of job opportunities as the main reason.
   2. 2.The 'Palna' scheme for crèche support falls under the Mission Shakti umbrella of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
   3. 3.NITI Aayog's report 'Reimagining Care' proposes the establishment of a National Caregiving Council.

   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   • AOnly 1
   • BOnly 3
   • CBoth 2 and 3
   • DAll three
3. Q3Medium

   According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025 cited in the article, what percentage of women outside the labour force reported childcare and homemaking as the main reason?

   • A39.5%
   • B44.4%
   • C48.1%
   • D52.3%
4. Q4Medium

   What is a primary objective of building a holistic care system in India, as discussed in the article?

   • ATo increase women's participation in the labour force and the economy
   • BTo replace the existing Anganwadi system with private crèches
   • CTo reduce government expenditure on social welfare schemes
   • DTo centralize all social services under a single ministry

• Original29 October 2026 · Read story