Every day, millions of Indian women and men perform the invisible work that keeps families, economies, and societies functioning yet this care economy remains largely unaccounted for. Care work encompasses tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing utensils and clothes, dusting, ironing, and caring for children, the elderly, the ill, and persons with disabilities. Some tasks, like cooking, are daily tasks; others, like ironing, occur less frequently. Caring for someone with a chronic illness or disability requires continuous attention throughout the day, often involving quick responses to unexpected needs. While the nature and extent of care dependence differs with age, health, and circumstance, most people need care at some point in their lives. Infants and young children rely entirely on family or care workers, while the elderly or those facing illness or disability may require substantial support. Care needs are, therefore, very high during early childhood, after retirement, and during periods of illness or disability. These stages of life are not only periods of vulnerability but also of opportunity the support provided can shape a child's development or an older adult's quality of life. However, the responsibility for providing this care falls disproportionately on women, thereby either adding significant stress or limiting their economic participation, income security, and long-term empowerment.