45-Day Care Leave for Elderly Parents Raised in Rajya Sabha During Zero Hour

India’s rapidly ageing population entered the centre of parliamentary debate on Friday, February 6, 2026, when Sumitra Balmik raised a demand in the Rajya Sabha for mandatory 45-day care leave for elderly parents in both government and private sectors.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ms. Balmik framed the demand not as a welfare concession, but as a structural necessity for a country undergoing a silent demographic transformation.

Her intervention brought together three critical themes:

1. The rise of the sandwich generation

2. India’s accelerating elderly population growth

3. The absence of formal support for family caregivers

Understanding the ‘Sandwich Generation’: Why 45-Day Care Leave for Elderly Parents Matters

Ms. Balmik highlighted the lived reality of India’s sandwich generation — working adults caught between:

• Professional responsibilities

• Child-rearing obligations

• And caring for ageing parents

She pointed out that rapid urbanisation and employment-driven migration have displaced crores of young Indians from their homes, leaving elderly parents behind in villages and small towns.

This is the core policy gap that the proposal for 45-day care leave for elderly parents seeks to address.

India’s Ageing Population: The Demographic Reality Behind the Demand

Despite India being described as a youthful nation in 2026, the data tells a different story.

Ms. Balmik informed Parliament that:

• India’s senior citizen population has already crossed 14.9 crore

• By 2036, this number will exceed 23 crore

• “Soon, every third Indian will be an elderly person”

This aligns with broader demographic projections:

• Senior citizens (aged 60+) currently comprise over 10% of India’s population (about 104 million people)

• By 2050, this share will rise to 19.5%, or 319 million people

India is ageing faster than its social protection systems are evolving.

Health Burden of Ageing: Chronic Illness and Rising Medical Costs

The demand for 45-day care leave for elderly parents is inseparable from India’s elderly health profile.

Key facts:

• 75% of elderly Indians suffer from one or more chronic diseases

• Medical expenses for senior citizens are more than double those of younger populations

• Ageing is accompanied by higher dependency on daily physical care, not just financial support

Crucially, 71% of India’s elderly population lives in rural areas, where:

• Medical infrastructure is limited

• Specialist geriatric care is scarce

• Distance from children working in cities is greater

Erosion of Family Support and Social Vulnerability of the Elderly

India’s traditional joint-family caregiving model is weakening due to:

• Urban migration

• Smaller family sizes

• Informal employment patterns

This has resulted in:

• Rising elder neglect

• Domestic abuse

• Low awareness of legal rights

• Increased dependency on children who lack leave or flexibility

In this context, 45-day care leave for elderly parents is a recognition of care work as essential labour, not a private inconvenience.

Financial Insecurity Among Elderly Indians: A Hidden Crisis

One of the most alarming dimensions of ageing in India is economic precarity.

Key data points:

• 78% of elderly Indians have no pension coverage

• Only 18% have any form of insurance

• Nearly 40% of elderly persons belong to the poorest wealth quintile

• 18.7% live with no source of income

Feminisation of Ageing

• Elderly sex ratio: 1,065 women per 1,000 men

• Elderly women:

  • Live longer

  • Have higher morbidity

  • Are less educated

  • Often outlive spouses

  • Rarely have independent income

This makes caregiving support even more critical.

Digital Divide: 85.8% of Elderly Indians Are Digitally Illiterate

Another layer of exclusion comes from technology.

• 85.8% of elderly Indians are digitally illiterate

• This restricts access to:

  • Online health services

  • Welfare portals

  • Banking and insurance systems

Digital exclusion increases vulnerability to:

• Financial fraud

• Missed benefits

• Social isolation

Caregivers — usually children — become the only interface between the elderly and the state.

Union Budget 2026–27 and Elderly Care: Signals but Not Solutions

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described Union Budget 2026–27 as a “Yuva Shakti-driven budget”, aligned with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

While youth skilling and infrastructure dominate, the Budget does acknowledge elderly care needs.

Key Budget Announcement on Elderly Care

• Plan to train 1.5 lakh caregivers in one year

• Training aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)

• Focus on strengthening geriatric and long-term care workforce

However, this approach focuses on paid caregivers, not family caregivers, leaving proposals like 45-day care leave for elderly parents unaddressed.

Existing Legal and Policy Framework for Elderly Welfare in India

India already has multiple elderly-focused frameworks:

Policy and Legal Instruments

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007

• National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP)

Health Initiatives

• National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly

• Ayushman Bharat

• Vayo Mitra

Social and Economic Support Schemes

• Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Elder Line (14567)

• Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) initiative

• SACRED Portal (re-employment for seniors)

Despite this ecosystem, implementation remains fragmented, and family caregivers remain invisible.

Pensions Under NSAP: Structure, Disparities, and Budget Stagnation

India runs three major elderly schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

• ₹200/month (ages 60–79)

• ₹500/month (80+)

2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)

• ₹200/month for BPL widows

3. Annapurna Scheme

• 10 kg free food grains/month

• Coverage only ~1% of eligible elderly

State-Level Disparities

• High pensions: Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Delhi, Tripura (₹2,000–₹2,750)

• Minimal/no top-ups: Bihar, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh

Budget 2026–27 Allocations: Falling Behind Inflation and Demographics

• Budget 2026–27 allocation: ₹6,904.9 crore

• 2025–26 revised estimate: ₹6,460 crore

• Nominal increase: 6.9%

This barely keeps pace with inflation.

Other concerns:

• IGNWPS allocation unchanged at ₹2,027 crore (real decline)

• Annapurna allocation stagnant at ₹10 crore

• Pension amounts last revised in 2012

This stagnation directly increases dependence on family caregivers — again reinforcing the case for 45-day care leave for elderly parents.

Elderly as Economic Contributors, Not Dependents

Contrary to popular perception, India’s elderly actively contribute to the economy.

According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India:

• Over 50% of elderly men are still working

• 22% of elderly women are engaged in paid work

Most work in:

• Agriculture

• Small businesses

• Informal sector jobs

Additionally, elderly women perform extensive unpaid care work:

• Childcare

• Cooking and cleaning

• Fuel collection

• Kitchen gardening

This unpaid labour subsidises the formal economy, yet goes unrecognised.

Why 45-Day Care Leave for Elderly Parents Fits ‘Viksit Bharat’

Experts argue that achieving Viksit Bharat requires moving towards a “society for all ages”, not just a youth-driven economy.

Key reform pillars include:

• Health empowerment: home-based care, adult immunisation, workforce training

• Social inclusion: community support, one-stop portals

• Economic security: geriatric insurance, silver economy, re-employment

• Digital inclusion: elderly-friendly technology

Within this framework, 45-day care leave for elderly parents:

• Recognises caregiving as essential infrastructure

• Reduces caregiver burnout

• Supports women disproportionately burdened by care work

• Complements formal elderly-care investments

From Youth Dividend to a Society for All Ages

India’s demographic transition is no longer a future challenge — it is unfolding now.

As senior citizens approach 20% of the population by 2050, the Rajya Sabha demand for 45-day care leave for elderly parents raises a fundamental policy question:

Can India claim to be a developed nation if those who care for its elders are left unsupported?

Answering this question will define whether Viksit Bharat becomes a lived reality — or remains a slogan.

FAQs: 45-Day Care Leave for Elderly Parents

Q. Can employees take leave to care for elderly parents in India?

Ans. Currently, there is no mandatory nationwide provision that guarantees paid leave for employees to care for elderly parents in India. Some government employees may receive limited leave under existing service rules, but there is no uniform policy applicable to both government and private sector workers.

Q. What is the proposal for 45-day care leave for elderly parents?

Ans. The proposal seeks to mandate 45 days of paid leave for employees in both government and private sectors to care for parents aged 60 years and above. The demand was raised in the Rajya Sabha to address the growing caregiving burden faced by working adults.

Q. Who raised the demand for 45-day care leave in Parliament?

Ans. The demand was raised by Uttar Pradesh MP Sumitra Balmik during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, 2026, highlighting the challenges faced by the “sandwich generation”.

Q. Why is care leave for elderly parents being discussed now?

Ans. India’s elderly population is growing rapidly. Senior citizens already exceed 14.9 crore and are projected to cross 23 crore by 2036. Rising life expectancy, chronic illness, urban migration, and weakening family support systems have made elder care a pressing policy issue.

Q. What is the ‘sandwich generation’ mentioned in the debate?

Ans. The “sandwich generation” refers to working adults who are simultaneously responsible for their children and ageing parents, while managing full-time jobs. Lack of formal caregiving leave places severe emotional, financial, and physical stress on this group.

Q. How does India’s ageing population impact the workforce?

Ans. As India ages:

• 75% of elderly people suffer from chronic diseases

• Medical expenses for seniors are more than double

• Families increasingly rely on working children for careWithout formal leave policies, productivity loss, burnout, and workforce attrition are expected to rise.

Q. Does the Union Budget 2026–27 address elderly care?

Ans. Yes, partially. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced plans to train 1.5 lakh caregivers under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) to strengthen geriatric and long-term care services. However, it does not provide leave benefits for family caregivers.

Q. Are there any existing laws protecting senior citizens in India?

Ans. Yes. Key laws and policies include:

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007

• National Policy on Older PersonsThese focus on maintenance, welfare, and institutional support, but do not mandate caregiver leave.

Q. What percentage of elderly Indians have pensions or insurance?

Ans.

• 78% of elderly Indians have no pension coverage

• Only 18% have health insuranceThis increases dependence on family members for financial and physical support.

Q. Is caregiving leave common in other countries?

Ans. Yes. Several countries provide family or elder care leave, either paid or unpaid, recognising caregiving as essential social infrastructure. India currently lacks a comparable nationwide policy.

Q. Is 45-day care leave for elderly parents likely to become law?

Ans. As of now, it is a parliamentary demand, not law. Its adoption would require government approval, legislative backing, and policy design involving employers, states, and labour laws.