Summary of this article
Uncertainty index rises, deepening retirement-related stress for seniors
Mental health ranks among top controllable financial anxieties
Smaller towns and low insurance cover worsen senior anxiety
Mental and financial anxiety is increasing more and more among Indian households, with senior citizens being among the most affected. According to the Anishchit Index 2.0, published by the Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, the retirement uncertainty score in India increased to 79 in 2025, from 74 in 2024, showing that worry over the future is on a continuous rising trend.
The report has disclosed that 73 per cent of the respondents are very worried about the future, and only 5 per cent fall in the category of "Optimists", as they feel that they are in total control of their lives. In the case of seniors, the sense of being less in charge is closely associated with fixed retirement income, reduced healthcare affordability, and reduced financial independence in the long term.
Mental health is listed as one of the top 4 controllable anxieties, reflecting the increasing influence of mental health on financial confidence.
Retirement And Aging Lead To Long-Term Stress
Of the 11 themes of life tracked in this index, retirement and ageing are the major sources of uncertainty. Senior citizens have lingering issues of fixed incomes, increasing medical costs and concern about outliving savings.
Health emergencies, another central theme of the index, are closely linked to fears around the cost of critical care and extended treatment, with the current medical inflation rate in India lying between 12 and 15 per cent annually, making it one of the highest in Asia. These concerns are exaggerated for households with older members, where healthcare spending is a major and regular expense.
Mental and emotional strain is also a further cause, adding to these pressures, impacting confidence in managing day-to-day finances and long-term planning.
Regional And City-Level Gaps Define Anxiety
Anxiety levels are very different throughout regions. East India experienced the greatest uncertainty score of 83, fuelled by concerns around access to healthcare, economic disruption and personal safety. South India had the lowest score with 71, indicating relatively better healthcare and economic stability.
City size also plays a role. Tier 3 towns had the highest level of anxiety at an index score of 86, mostly attributed to income instability, financial pressure within households and poor access to healthcare. For seniors in smaller towns, those factors amplify retirement-related stress.
In metros, where the index stands at 80, anxiety is still high as a result of increasing healthcare costs, digital security risks and urban safety concerns.
Insurance Coverage Means Decreased Anxiety
The report has marked a strong association between financial preparedness and reduced anxiety. Individuals with four or more insurance policies have reported much lower levels of uncertainty than those with limited insurance coverage.
At the same time, the index has also stated that slow financial strain triggered by stress or disruptions caused by health issues does not usually qualify for insurance claims, and so households are left to cope with ongoing costs independently.
The Majority Fall In The Highly Anxious Category
The Anishchit Index 2.0 shows that 57 per cent of the respondents are highly anxious, meaning they have a lack of control over several elements of life. Another 38 per cent are placed in the "steady climbers" category, while only 5 per cent fall into the category of optimists.
The data shows that anxiety about mental health, retirement and healthcare costs is still pervasive, especially for senior citizens who are dealing with long-term financial uncertainty.
Digital And Safety Concerns Add A New Layer Of Stress For Seniors
Beyond health and retirement, the index has also listed safety and digital threats as an increasing cause of worry. One of the 11 tracked themes is 'fears relating to cybercrime, misuse of data and personal safety'.
The report has also stated that anxiety around digital security is especially marked in urban areas, where there is greater dependence on digital banking and UPI payments. Metros with an uncertainty score of 80 also have great concern regarding online fraud and data leaks.
For senior citizens, the growing dependence on digital platforms has brought an improvement in access as well as a fear of financial loss through scams.
