New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI): The Union Budget 2024-25 has marked a significant milestone in gender-responsive funding, with the 'Gender Budget' allocation witnessing a sharp 37.5% increase, soaring to ₹4.49 lakh crore from last year’s ₹3.27 lakh crore, the Women and Child Development Ministry announced on Sunday.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech on Saturday, highlighted that the Gender Budget now constitutes 8.86% of the total Union Budget, a notable rise from 6.8% in the previous fiscal year.
In a landmark move, 12 new ministries and departments have been included in the GBS for the first time, signaling a stronger commitment to gender-inclusive financial planning. The newly added ministries and departments include:
This enhanced focus is expected to strengthen initiatives aimed at women’s education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and workforce participation, furthering India's progress towards gender parity.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech on Saturday, highlighted that the Gender Budget now constitutes 8.86% of the total Union Budget, a notable rise from 6.8% in the previous fiscal year.
Record Participation in Gender Budgeting
This year’s budget also saw an unprecedented rise in ministries and departments reporting allocations under the Gender Budget Statement (GBS). A total of 49 ministries and departments, along with five Union Territories, have made gender-focused allocations—an increase from 38 ministries and departments last year.In a landmark move, 12 new ministries and departments have been included in the GBS for the first time, signaling a stronger commitment to gender-inclusive financial planning. The newly added ministries and departments include:
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- Department of Biotechnology
- Department of Food & Public Distribution
- Department of Financial Services
- Department of Fisheries
- Department of Land Resources
- Department of Pharmaceuticals
- Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
- Ministry of Railways
Breakdown of Gender Budget Allocation
The Gender Budget has been classified into three sections:- Part A (100% women-specific schemes) – ₹1.05 lakh crore (23.50% of total GBS allocation)
- Part B (schemes with 30-99% allocation for women) – ₹3.26 lakh crore (72.75%)
- Part C (schemes with less than 30% allocation for women) – ₹16,821 crore (3.75%)
Top Contributors to the Gender Budget
Among the leading contributors, the Ministry of Women and Child Development emerged at the forefront, with 81.79% of its total budget dedicated to women-centric initiatives. Other key ministries with significant allocations include:- Department of Rural Development – 65.76%
- Department of Food & Public Distribution – 50.92%
- Department of Health & Family Welfare – 41.10%
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy – 40.89%
- Department of Social Justice & Empowerment – 39.01%
- Department of Higher Education – 33.94%
- Department of School Education & Literacy – 33.67%
- Ministry of Home Affairs – 33.47%
- Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation – 31.50%
Strengthening Gender-Responsive Governance
The sharp increase in gender-focused budgetary allocations underscores the government's growing commitment to women's empowerment and gender inclusivity in economic planning. The addition of new ministries to the Gender Budget framework marks a strategic expansion of gender-responsive governance, ensuring that a wider range of sectors contribute to bridging gender disparities.This enhanced focus is expected to strengthen initiatives aimed at women’s education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and workforce participation, furthering India's progress towards gender parity.