This communication deals with certain aspects of psychiatry of the ageing population of the Indian sub-continent. The report is based on the material drawn from "Geropsychiatric clinic" Institute of Psychiatry, Govt. Rajaji Hospital & Madurai Medical College, Madurai which has been functioning under the supervision of the author from 1976. It is proposed to touch upon demography, prevalence, socio-cultural aspects of ageing in India. The clinic material will be presented under the headings—general data and some observations on depressive illness concerning its symptomatology in relation to age, suicide behavior and genetics. Finally suggestions will be made for further research.