India Launches BHARAT Study: A Scientific Blueprint for Healthy Ageing.
National
In July 2025, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, launched the BHARAT Study — a national research initiative focused on identifying scientific markers of healthy ageing. It aims to improve the quality of life and healthspan of India’s growing elderly population.
- The full form of BHARAT is Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity and Transitions. This is India’s first large-scale, multi-omics ageing study that will analyze thousands of samples across the country to study biological ageing using genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and microbiome analysis.
- India's elderly population (aged 60+) is projected to grow from 104 million in 2011 to over 173 million by 2026, contributing to a rapid increase in age-related diseases. Dementia cases alone are expected to rise by 200%, while Parkinson’s disease is expected to increase by 168% in the coming decades.
- The BHARAT Study addresses the lack of India-specific medical baselines. It will develop Indian biological ageing standards, such as liver age, kidney age, and metabolic age. This is important because many global cut-off values (e.g., cholesterol, CRP, B12) don’t apply accurately to Indian populations.
Main Point :- (i) The study aligns with global and national goals like the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) and India's National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). It supports SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) and works alongside government schemes like Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).
(ii) Preliminary data shows around 8.8 million elderly Indians suffer from dementia, and up to 50% experience sarcopenia or osteoporosis, leading to falls, fractures, and disability. BHARAT will help develop preventive models, including early diagnostics, nutrition guidelines, and physical activity programs tailored to Indian physiology.
(iii) The long-term goal is to integrate findings into India’s digital health ecosystem under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Data will support the development of AI-driven risk predictors, personalized elderly care services, and improved policies in insurance, pensions, urban planning, and rural geriatric care systems.
____________________________
