Gender Budget 2026-27

• The Union Government released the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) 2026–27, marking its highest-ever allocation.

Key Highlights of GBS 2026–27

• Total Allocation: The allocation for women and girls under various schemes increased by 11.55% to ₹5.01 lakh crore in 2026-27.
• Budget Share: The Gender Budget share in the total Union Budget increased to 9.37% in FY 2026-27 from 8.86% in FY 2025-26.
• Component Shares: Part A (100% women-specific) accounts for 21.50%, Part B (at least 30% women-beneficiaries) constitutes 72.54%, and Part C (less than 30% women allocation) forms about 5%.
• Institutional Coverage: 53 Ministries and 5 Union Territories reported their gender-specific allocations this year, marking the highest participation so far.
• Leading Ministry: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) allocated 81.73% of its budget to gender-responsive initiatives.

About Gender Budgeting

• Gender Budgeting is a public financial management tool that aligns government resource allocation with the constitutional goal of gender equality.
• It is not a separate women’s budget but rather a methodology for integrating a gender perspective across all stages of the budgetary process.
• The framework translates gender-related policy commitments into budgetary targets to reduce structural socio-economic disparities.
• Gender Budgeting was formally introduced into the Indian Union Budget in FY 2005-06 through the publication of Expenditure Statement 13.
• Nodal Authority: The Ministry of Women and Child Development issues guidelines and supports capacity-building for other ministries.
• Indian Framework: It divides allocations into 3 parts — Part A for schemes with 100% women beneficiaries, Part B for 30% to 99%, and Part C for less than 30% (introduced in FY 2024-25).
• Institutional Mechanism: Since 2004-05, the government mandated Gender Budgeting Cells (GBCs) in all ministries to review and shape allocations using a gender lens.

Read More >  Gender Budgeting in India | Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

Source: PIB | ET

Frequently Asked Question

Q. What is the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) 2026–27?
It is the Union Government’s statement detailing gender-responsive allocations across ministries.

Q. How much did the Gender Budget allocation increase in 2026–27?
It increased by 11.55% compared to the previous year.

Q. What is the share of Gender Budget in the Union Budget 2026–27?
It accounts for 9.37% of the total Union Budget.

Q. What is Gender Budgeting?
It is a public financial management tool that integrates a gender perspective into budgeting.

Q. When was Gender Budgeting introduced in India?
It was formally introduced in the Union Budget in FY 2005–06.