India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released ₹77.98 crore (779.8 million rupees) for 755 senior-care projects, a grant program set against the ministry’s forecast of a larger population aged 60 and older. The ministry announced the release Oct. 28. Funding covered the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, during financial year 2026-27.
The funds were provided under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), part of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY). The ministry describes IPSrC as support for institutional care and connected services for older people.
A Press Information Bureau (PIB) background note says eligible grant recipients include NGOs, local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. It gives examples ranging from physiotherapy clinics and mobile medical units to old-age homes and continuous care homes. AVYAY’s structure also includes institutional assistance, state-level planning and district-level monitoring, according to the ministry.
The government launched AVYAY in 2021, incorporating the earlier National Action Plan for Senior Citizens into the scheme. The ministry says AVYAY supports housing, meals, medical care and recreation for older people.
Of the 10.38 crore (103.8 million) people aged 60 or older recorded in 2011, 5.11 crore were male and 5.27 crore female. The ministry projects that India’s senior citizen population will reach 23 crore (230 million) by 2036. It cites urbanization, migration and the growth of nuclear households as factors changing traditional family support.
