This year’s International Women’s Day theme of Give to Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support, meaning that when people, organizations and communities give generously, opportunities for women grow. Whether through knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to an inclusive and equitable term. In this context, it is important to consider the success of gender budgeting (GB) which has transformed from a supplementary welfare mechanism to a strategic economic imperative. By expanding its coverage and allocation, it has created a sustainable institutional framework. A historic allocation was made in this year’s Union Budget ₹Rs 5 lakh crore for FY 2026/27.
By expanding fiscal space for gender-specific interventions, the government is signaling that inclusive and equitable growth is the primary driver for Developing India 2047 and also aligns with the international commitment to deliver the budget under the broader theme of Give to Gain. Yet there are some challenges, as there remains a mismatch in terms of allocation versus outcomes; Apart from being concentrated among a few social sector ministries and weak in mainstreaming women in the economic and social sectors
The GB was included in the national budget in 2005–06 to integrate the gender perspective into the budget as the main national plan of public expenditure. Its objective was to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment by ensuring that government revenues and public expenditure meet distinct gender needs. The technical architecture of India’s Gender Budget Statement (GBS) uses a three-tier taxonomy to track the intensity of gender-specific targeting. Part A, with 100% allocation, consists of schemes exclusively for women. Part B with 30-99% allocation represents gender mainstreaming of general schemes. This category has the highest risk of gender-fraud, but also the greatest opportunity for impact if rigorously audited. and Part C with <30% allocation) includes schemes with minor gender components.
For the year 2026-27, ministries and departments reported the amount ₹5 lakh crore in GBS, which is an increase of 11.36% ₹4.49 lakh crore in the year 2025-26. Currently, 49 ministries and departments are engaged, spanning sectors such as health, education, rural development, labor and home affairs, with implementation facilitated through dedicated Gender Budget Cells (GBCs) in each ministry.
Early programs in India focused on basic welfare services, aiming to develop women through targeted interventions. Although these efforts improved outcomes in education and health, they often positioned women as passive beneficiaries. Over time, there was a change in understanding culminating in a national approach to women-led development (WLD), which was prominently expressed in India’s G20 presidency. WLD moves beyond welfare to an emphasis on agency, leadership, entrepreneurship and economic participation, recognizing women as drivers of social and economic change. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the budgetary allocation and its impact on women.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) remains its anchor, with over 80% of its budget classified as gender-focused. The past years have seen the integration of several schemes under three flagship programmes, i.e. Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya, which marked a significant administrative reform during this period. Budget rose from 2026 ₹1,912 crore (2021-22) ₹₹ 3,150 crore (2025-26) to bring about strong transformation in aspects of women’s safety, rehabilitation and economic empowerment.
One of the important announcements is the Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) initiative which is an extension of the Lakhpati Didi scheme. It aims to transform women from subsistence-level livelihoods to SHE, setting up community-owned retail shops in every district and selling products in new markets. This will remove barriers to market access that have marginalized rural women producers. During my fieldwork last year in Mundra (Gujarat), Mumbai and Tirora (Maharashtra), women entrepreneurs consistently cited limited access to markets as the primary structural barrier to their growth and expansion of their businesses. These findings match my PhD research on women entrepreneurs in Nepal, where similar market exclusions restrict women-led enterprises to the micro or small scale despite clear entrepreneurial potential. Currently the focus of this scheme is on rural areas, in future this scheme can be expanded to provide coverage for women entrepreneurs in urban areas also.
Furthermore, investment in human capital serves as the basis for workforce participation. The government has also increased its spending on maternal care and welfare through efficient Anganwadis and Nutrition 2.0. This year’s budget focused on mental health with the proposal to set up NIMHANS in North India. NMHS data (2015–16) indicates that 15% of adults require mental health intervention which increases disproportionately for women. Other ministries such as Health and Family Welfare provide maternal and child health, nutrition and reproductive health services.
Similarly, the Ministry of Education launched schemes to retain women in secondary and higher education. To deal with the security concerns that force many women to leave educational institutions and thus limit their economic freedom, this year’s budget mandates one girls hostel per district in every STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) institute. Additionally, the scheme indirectly encourages women to develop their skills in non-traditional sector. Over time, the government may expand these schemes beyond STEM institutions to include other streams as well.
The Ministry of Rural Development is another primary driver of GB. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) is the key mechanism in Part A, which achieves ₹19,200 crores. Importantly, Part B schemes like MNREGA contribute to ₹64,000 crore in indirect benefits. While these provide an important social safety net, they often finance low-productivity labour, highlighting the gap between employment and high-value economic participation. Even non-traditional ministries are gradually entering the field of exclusively allocating gender budgets, such as new and renewable energy, home affairs, drinking water and sanitation, and social justice and empowerment.
While the macro-trajectory indicates a strong fiscal commitment, the efficacy of this expenditure is dependent on the strategic deployment and use of funds. First, the lack of gender-disaggregated data prevents accurate policy design. With literacy rates for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women being only 56.5% and 49.4% respectively, the inability to track interpersonal disparities leaves the most vulnerable behind. Even digitalization, such as Aadhaar-linked PDS and digital-only applications (e.g., PM Ujjwala Yojana) have created new exclusions. Marginalized women often lack the digital literacy to navigate these systems, increasing their dependence on intermediaries.
Second, an exclusion gap exists where adolescent girls (ages 11–18) fall between child welfare and maternity programs, leaving them without specialized nutrition or skill-building support. Third, regional gaps exist. PLFS data shows a worrying trend: women’s share in agriculture increased from 57% (2017-18) to 64.4% (2023-24), while rural service participation remains stagnant at 10.5%. Fourth, the problem of re-entry remains a major obstacle. There are currently no formal, large-scale plans to facilitate workforce reintegration for women after childbirth, leading to a significant reduction in career trajectory. Finally, funds intended for targeted development (TSP/SCSP) are often diverted to generic infrastructure projects, which do not directly benefit women. Low awareness of programs further exacerbates underutilization.
The following strategic interventions are needed to ensure that the 9.37% allocation translates into true equality. First, strict implementation of third-party impact auditing to ensure fiscal hitting, as has been done in countries like Rwanda and Bangladesh. Further, there is a need to strengthen the Gender Budgeting Cell (GBC) with expert advisors and senior leadership, emulating the particular architectures of FPI of Karnataka and Kerala Planning Board.
Second, there is a need to implement schemes to prevent debt traps within the microfinance sectors. Third, there is a need for formal recognition of caregivers and creation of care infrastructure to reduce the unpaid labor burden. Fourth, dedicated returnship programs are necessary to mitigate career decline after maternity leave. Finally, states increase national investment and can be used as role models that can be emulated in other regions. Odisha’s Mission Shakti channels 44% through WSHGs for nutrition; Karnataka’s Fiscal Policy Institute implements gender audit; And Kerala’s Kudumbashree enables participatory budgeting.
The Give to Gain theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is a clarion call to transform generosity into the biggest accelerator of gender equality. When governments allocate, corporations invest, and citizens advocate, women don’t just step up; Entire economies soar. On March 8, 2026, let’s build this mutual future: Give to Gain demands it, and India’s GB exemplifies this ethos, proving that fiscal investment in the strategic needs of women delivers rapid social returns. And even though a change in the 9.37% gender budget allocation is a necessary condition for progress, it is not sufficient. Creating gender-equitable policies requires a coordinated approach through inter-ministerial as well as inter-state convergence, and thus their needs must be effectively integrated into the broader national agenda.
This article is written by Chhavi Vashishtha, Associate Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation, New Delhi.
