Presenting the Union Budget on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment by identifying ‘Nari’ (women) as one of four focus groups, alongside Garib (the poor), Youth, and Annadata (farmers).
“In this Budget, the proposed development measures span ten broad areas focusing on Garib, Youth, Annadata, and Nari,” Sitharaman stated in her address.
Since FY 2005-06, the Government of India has published the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) alongside the Union Budget, reporting allocations across ministries and departments for schemes benefiting women and girls. However, the GBS is not a separate budget but an accounting mechanism to track gender-focused expenditure.
The GBS classifies allocations into three parts:
· Part A: Schemes with 100% allocation for women and girls.
· Part B: Schemes where 30-99% of allocations are directed toward women.
· Part C (introduced last year): Schemes with 1-29% of funds allocated for women.
For FY 2025-26, the GBS reports a total allocation of Rs 4.49 lakh crore, reflecting a 37% increase from FY 2024-25. Over the years, the proportion of the total budget allocated for women has increased, rising from 5% in FY 2019-20 to 9% in FY 2025-26.
One of the key schemes under Part A of the GBS is the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Grameen (PMAY-G), which aims to provide pucca houses for the rural poor, prioritizing women’s ownership. However, despite the scheme’s stated objectives, government data shows that only 23% of houses have been registered in women’s names as of February 1, 2025, highlighting a gap between policy intent and implementation.
Similarly, Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the successor to the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, is listed under both Part A and Part B of the GBS. The lack of clarity regarding which sub-schemes qualify for 100% allocation versus partial allocation raises concerns over transparency in reporting.
Moreover, the PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides maternity benefits, has disappeared from the budget under the restructuring of social welfare schemes. The omission has made it difficult to track its actual allocation and expenditure.
A notable improvement in this year’s GBS is the upgrading of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) from Part B to Part A, signifying a stronger focus on Self-Help Group (SHG)-led empowerment. This shift reflects the government’s ability to prioritize women’s economic participation.
However, despite the growing budgetary allocations, experts argue that an accounting exercise alone is insufficient to deliver on the promise of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s empowerment). The introduction of Part C in the GBS is a step toward integrating a gender lens across all ministries, but ambiguities in classification persist.
To enhance accountability, experts recommend making the methodologies used in GBS reporting public and conducting gender-oriented audits across ministries. A well-defined strategy beyond mere financial allocations is essential to ensure that budgetary commitments translate into tangible benefits for women and girls across the country. (With inputs from Indian Express)