Define gender budgeting and explain its evolution in India since the 2005-06 statement.
Subtopic: Economy · Inclusive growth
How to structure your answer
Introduction: Gender Budget Statement first published with Union Budget 2005-06; Budget 2025-26 allocates ₹4.49 lakh crore (~6.8% of total outlay) across Parts A (women-specific) and B (pro-women).
Body: 1) Architecture — Gender Budgeting Cells in 57 ministries, MWCD nodal. 2) Programmes — Mission Shakti, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nirbhaya Fund, Lakhpati Didi. 3) Limits — outlay vs outcome, Part B accounting, exclusion of unpaid care.
Way forward: Adopt Part C for fully gender-mainstreamed schemes; link to SDG 5 indicators; outcome budget integration.
Written within the word limit
131 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: Gender budgeting applies fiscal policy to advance gender equity by analysing budget allocations through a gender lens. India introduced Statement 13 in Union Budget 2005-06, joining 90+ countries.
Body: The Gender Budget rose from ₹14,378 crore in 2005-06 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26, representing 8.86% of total expenditure. It comprises Part-A (100% women-specific — Mission Shakti, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Lakhpati Didi, PMMVY) and Part-B (30-99% women — PMAY-G, PMJDY, PMUY). MoWCD hosts the central Gender Budgeting Cell; 39 ministries have GB cells. PMJDY (54 crore accounts, 56% women), MUDRA (68% loans to women), and PMUY (10.32 crore LPG) anchor outcomes. Gaps: weak outcome tracking, missing SDG-5 alignment in DBT MIS, and uneven state-level uptake outside Kerala, Karnataka and Odisha.
Way forward: MoWCD should publish a Gender Outcome Budget by FY27, integrate Statement 13 with PFMS-SAKSHAM and align all 39 GB cells with SDG-5.
What an examiner expects to see
- Gender Budget first issued FY 2005-06
- Budget 2025-26 — ₹4.49 lakh crore gender outlay
- Two-part statement: A (100% women), B (>=30%)
- 57 ministries have Gender Budgeting Cells
- Mission Shakti since 2022-23 — Samarthya and Sambal
- MWCD nodal ministry
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Nirbhaya Fund corpus
- Lakhpati Didi target 3 crore
- BBBP scheme districts expanded nationwide
- Working Women Hostels