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Longevity: A New Way of Understanding Ageing

May 27, 2025

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Key Questions

  1. What does longevity truly mean in the Indian context, and how can we shift the narrative from decline and dependence to one of potential, purpose, and participation?
  2. How can we better support older adults with jobs, financial security, and good physical and mental healthcare? What would happen if we don’t invest in ageing in India?
  3. Where are the most critical systemic gaps in India’s ageing ecosystem, and how can innovation and cross-sector collaboration help create a society that supports longer, healthier, and more connected lives?

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In 2023–24 alone, older adults in India contributed USD 68 billion in labour income—over 3% of the country’s GDP. Each year, they also invest an estimated 14 billion hours in caregiving within families and 2.6 billion hours in community-building activities. And yet, this vital demographic remains largely overlooked.

If India enabled older adults who wish to continue working to re-enter the workforce, national GDP could rise by as much as 1.5%.

To shift the conversation from ageing as decline to ageing as opportunity, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, in collaboration with Dalberg Advisors and Ashoka Changemakers, has launched a landmark report: “Longevity: A New Way of Understanding Ageing.”

This all-inclusive study takes a multi-dimensional view of ageing in India—not just focused on longer lives, but on better, more meaningful ones.

Built on ten months of dialogue with leading organisations including HelpAge India, WisdomCircle, Carers Worldwide, Vayah Vikas, Silver Talkies, AARP, and Nightingale Medical Trust, and enriched by 15+ expert interviews, the report highlights key ecosystem gaps, opportunities for innovation, and urgent areas for intervention.

The report urges a new narrative—one that embraces ageing as a phase of purpose and potential. Drawing lessons from global examples such as Japan and Singapore, it invites policymakers, philanthropies, businesses, and communities to reimagine ageing not as a challenge to fix, but a future to co-create.

Access the report here.

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Keywords

ageing health longevity population