The government recently released a ‘Elderly in India- 2021’ report that provides demographic and other forms of data related to the elderly. The data indicates that the share of ‘elderly’ in the overall population is estimated to reach 13.1% in 2031, up from 8.6% in 2011 and 5.6 in 1961. However, there are wide variations among states. In an earlier story, we analysed some key trends relating to the elderly population in the country, based on the data from the 75 Round of NSS report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It was evident from this report that more elderly couples were staying alone than earlier, around 1/3 of the elderly was financially independent and a higher dependence on children & grandchildren among the dependent. Recently, MOSPI published the ‘Elderly in India- 2021’ report. This is the Fifth Edition of the report, which was first brought out by MoSPI in 2000. The data collected & furnished by MoSPI regarding the elderly in the country is key for their inclusion in development planning. This is in line with the pledge of the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development – ‘No One To Be Left Behind’. In this story, we look at a few of the important trends regarding the elderly population in the country as provided by this report, more specifically on the Population statistics. Individuals who are 60 years and above are considered elderly population as per the report. Increase in share of the elderly population over the decades with the increase in life expectancy Data indicates that there has been a steady increase in the share of the elderly population since 1961. The report observes that this is mainly due to the fall in death rates that was made possible through various health interventions resulting in increased life expectancy. In 1961, the elderly population constituted around 5.6% of the total population of India. Over the ensuing decades, there was a steady increase with the elderly population constituting 8.6% of the total population as per the 2011 census. As per census projections, the elderly population is estimated to be 10.1% in 2021 and their share would reach 13.1% of the total population by 2031. The trend is similar for both male & female populations. However, the growth rate in the share of elderly females among the total female population is higher than that of elderly males among the total male population. As per the 1961 census, elderly females constituted 5.8% of the total female population. This increased to 9% by 2011 and is projected to increase to 10.7% in 2021 and to 14% in 2031. In the case of males, elderly males constituted 5.5% of the total male population in 1961. This increased to 8.2% in 2011 and is projected to be 9.6% as per the 2021 census and 12.3% by 2031. Along with the share of the elderly population (> 60 years), the share of the population in the 15-59 age group has also increased. The share of the population in this age group was 56.1% during the 1961 census and increased to 60.3% in 2011 and is projected to increase to 64.4% by the 2021 census. The increase in the share of the population for these two age groups comes at the cost of the younger population in the 0-14 years age. Their share fell from 38.4% in 1961 to 30.8% in 2011 and is projected to further fall to 25.5% in 2021. The decreasing fertility rates and birth rates could be reasons for the fall in their share. The decadal growth rate of the elderly population is nearly five times that of the general population growth rate Population data from the recent report indicates an increasing proportion of the elderly population, aided by people living longer coupled with falling birth rates. These contrasting trends become more conspicuous when the decadal growth rate is considered. During the decade of 1951-61, the overall population growth rate of India was 21.6%, while the growth rate specific to the elderly population was 23.9%. In the ensuing decades, the overall population growth rate increased to 24.8% during 1961-71 followed by 24.7% during 1971-81. Since then, the decadal growth rate has continuously decreased. For 2001-2011, the decadal growth rate of the overall population of India is 17.7%, which is expected to further fall to 12.4% for 2011-21. The case of elderly population growth rate followed an almost opposite trend from 2001. After an increase in the growth rate for 1961-71 at 33.7%, the growth of the elderly population fell successively till the 1991-2001 decade. However, the trend reversed starting from 2001. During 2001-2011, the growth rate of the elderly population was 35.5%. Projections for 2011-21 show a slight increase at 35.8 % and the 2021-31 projection estimate the growth in the elderly population to be 40.5%.