Two Decades of Gender Responsive Budgeting in India: A Stocktaking

Gender inequality continues to exist across the globe, though its form and intensity differ depending on a nation’s stage of political and economic progress. In advanced economies, women have made significant gains in education, healthcare, and legal safeguards against domestic violence, yet their roles in economic activity and political decision-making remain limited. Bridging these gaps can stimulate economic development by boosting labor efficiency, fostering healthier generations, and ensuring more transparent governance. The global resolve to achieve this is embodied in Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasizes gender equality and women’s empowerment. One key strategy adopted worldwide to pursue this objective is Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB). This chapter reviews the journey of GRB in India, beginning with its inclusion in the Union Budget of 2005–06 and following its progress through to the 2025–26 fiscal year. The scope of the study is to examine trends in gender budget allocations as a share of GDP and total expenditure, analyse budgetary allocations across key ministries and departments, and evaluate major gender-focused schemes in the Union Budget 2025–26. Relying solely on secondary data from official Gender Budget Statements, the analysis is based on percentage trends and graphical presentations. The findings reveal that, despite two decades of implementation, GRB allocations remain limited at around 5% of total expenditure and only 1% of GDP. Methodological inconsistencies, particularly in classifying schemes under Part A or Part B, diminish effectiveness. Moreover, the absence of an intersectional perspective excludes critical issues related to caste and religion. The study recommends enhancing targeted allocations, increasing ministerial participation, and revisiting the predominance of Part B schemes to ensure GRB better addresses the needs of vulnerable women and promotes substantive gender equality.