Abstract
This chapter examines the socio-economic and health disparities among older adults (aged 60 and above) across socio-religious communities in Uttar Pradesh, utilizing data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017–19). It analyzes multiple dimensions, including housing and environmental conditions, assets and debts, consumption and income, education, employment, family and social networks, health risks, health insurance, self-reported and measured health, nutritional status, metabolic risks, mental health, and awareness of social security schemes. Findings reveal that higher-caste Hindus generally exhibit better socio-economic and health outcomes compared to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs) and Muslims. Muslim older adults experience the poorest health outcomes across most indicators, despite having better access to improved sanitation and communication devices—likely attributable to their higher urban residency. SCs/STs and Muslims consistently emerge among the most disadvantaged groups across nearly all socio-economic and health indicators. These findings underscore significant disparities and highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance the well-being of marginalized and minority communities in Uttar Pradesh.