Kerala Unveils India’s First Elderly Budget with ₹40 Crore Allocation for Geriatric Care

Key facts

• Kerala became the first state in India to present a dedicated Elderly Budget during the presentation of the State Budget 2026-27.
• Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal presented the document as part of the final budget of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) led government.
• Senior citizens currently constitute 18.7 per cent of the state population, a figure projected to reach nearly 25 per cent within the next ten years.
• The government allocated ₹30 crore to provide subsidies for retirement homes featuring community kitchens, playgrounds, and healthcare systems.
• An allocation of ₹10 crore was made to form volunteer forces under Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGI) to assist elderly people living alone.
• The LSGI will implement schemes including a dedicated telephone number for on-call medical and volunteer assistance.
• The population of people aged 60 and above in Kerala is projected to double from 4.2 million in 2011 to 8.4 million by 2036.
• Kerala was the first state in the country to constitute an Elderly Commission to address geriatric care and socio-economic development planning.