New Delhi, May 7 -- At 65, Vijaya Chakravarty thought she was ready to retire. After a long career as a landscape designer, the idea of slowing down seemed natural. But retirement, as the 72-year-old writer and nature educator says, turned out to be less of an ending and more of a reinvention.

Today, retirees like Chakravarty are moving beyond quiet sunset years and turning decades of experience into second income streams. From homestays and startups to writing, consulting and social ventures, the post-60 phase is increasingly becoming one where passion also pays.

For Vijaya, the shift began during the pandemic. Armed with years of landscape expertise and a little "digital aid" from her granddaughter, she started conducting webinars. "S...