The Budget that was: From the lens of a senior citizen March 3, 2021, 6:11 PM IST Introduction India is a young nation with a rapidly ageing population. The Indian Census 2011 observes that seniors will constitute almost 12.5% of the total population in the country by 2026 and surpass 19.5% by 2050. Senior interests have often taken a back seat, but unlike past years, there is an increase in the government focus on the changing needs of seniors. The recent Draft Policy for Senior Citizens introduced earlier in 2020, launch of ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing’ initiative by Dr Harsh Vardhan aligning to the UN directive, and the recent Longitudinal Ageing Study in India are all testament to increased government action on prioritizing seniors and their needs.