New Delhi: The Union Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promote active ageing and enhance employment opportunities for senior citizens through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. The Senior Citizen Re-employment Initiative has seen steady growth in registrations, employer participation, and job postings, helping experienced professionals remain part of the national workforce.
This update was provided in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Shri Rajinder Gupta. The Minister noted that the government has reviewed the findings of the UNFPA-India Ageing Report 2023, which projects a rapid increase in India’s elderly population. According to the report, the proportion of individuals aged 60 and above is expected to rise from 10.4 percent in 2022 to 20.8 percent by 2050, eventually reaching 36 percent by the end of the century.
Dr. Kumar emphasized that the report underscores the importance of creating structured re-employment avenues and livelihood policies. These measures aim to provide financial security for elderly individuals, especially those transitioning from or working in the unorganized sector.
To strengthen employment delivery frameworks, the government has approved 407 Model Career Centres (MCCs) under the NCS project in partnership with various states and institutions. These centers link job seekers, including senior citizens, to employment options via job fairs, career counseling, skill training, and online job matching.
The Minister added that the NCS portal is evolving through AI-driven integrations, broader institutional convergence, and citizen-focused services to support an inclusive workforce. Since its launch in 2015, the platform has registered over 6.46 crore job seekers and 58.76 lakh employers. Out of the total registrations, 1.89 lakh job seekers are above 60 years of age. At present, the portal lists 1.68 lakh active vacancies suitable for candidates in this age demographic. Overall, employers across the country have shortlisted more than 2.29 crore job seekers, including senior citizens, through the portal.