<p>Old age is often marked by a frail physique, low energy, and compromised immunity, exacerbated by various ailments. Cognitive impairment, a neuropsychological disorder, is a growing concern among older adults. To promote good health and well-being, the study aims to identify the contributing factors to cognitive decline within India’s aging population. Data were obtained from the Gateway to Global Ageing portal, specifically the harmonized Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, version A.3 (2017–2021). A total of 27,862 older adults were included in this study. The cognitive measures were adapted from the cognition module of the Health and Retirement Study (SRH). Descriptive statistics, along with binary logistic regression analysis were employed for the study. The data reveals that 89.3% of older adults have normal cognition, while 10.3% experience cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is strongly linked to the oldest-old population and lack of education. Females, particularly in rural areas and with non-traditional marital status are more susceptible. There is an increasing trend of cognitive impairment among scheduled castes, Muslims, BPL, and illiterate households. Furthermore, individuals who lack physical activity (odds ratio 1.48, 95% CI: 1.35–1.61, <i>p-</i>value &lt; 0.001), abstain from yoga/meditation (odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07–1.51, <i>p-</i>value &lt; 0.005) and suffer from malnutrition (odds ratio 1.90, 95% CI: 1.54–2.57, <i>p</i>-value &lt; 0.001) face an elevated risk of cognitive impairment. The study recommends implementing a geriatric female caregiving policy to enable early screening and intervention for cognitive impairment. It also emphasizes addressing the needs of older adults, particularly those from economically and socially disadvantaged groups.</p>