In line with its strong commitment to a gender-equal and inclusive India under the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), Government of India, hosted a landmark National Consultation on Gender Budgeting at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on June 20, 2025. The event saw participation from senior officials of 40 central Ministries and Departments, delegates from 19 States and Union Territories, representatives of international bodies such as UN Women and the Asian Development Bank, and experts from top national institutions.

The day-long consultation was the first of its kind at this scale and aimed at strengthening the gender budgeting ecosystem across governance levels. The key objectives were to deliberate on measures that can deepen and integrate gender budgeting into mainstream public finance and policy, and to showcase innovative practices and impactful initiatives already implemented by various Ministries and State Governments under their specific schemes.

The consultation was graced by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, who emphasized the transformative journey of gender budgeting in India. She stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, gender budgeting has evolved from a routine fiscal reporting practice into a strategic governance tool for social transformation.

“Today, when we invest in women, we are not merely allocating funds—we are building a stronger, fairer, and more empowered India. Women are no longer just seen as beneficiaries, but as key stakeholders and leaders in India’s growth story,” said the Union Minister in her keynote address.

One of the major highlights of the event was the launch of the ‘Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub’, an interactive web portal created by the Ministry. This digital platform will act as a centralized repository, offering easy access to policy documents, case studies, data insights, training materials, and toolkits on gender budgeting. It is designed to empower central and state government departments, civil society, academic institutions, and development partners with the resources needed to effectively plan and implement gender-responsive budgets.

The consultation showcased the Union Government’s significant investment in gender-responsive initiatives. For the financial year 2025–26, the Gender Budget has been allocated Rs. 4.49 lakh crore, marking a 37% increase over the previous year. This allocation is not only the highest ever but reflects the government’s steadfast resolve to advance gender equality through targeted financial and policy support.

The Gender Budget allocation has seen a remarkable rise from Rs. 0.98 lakh crore in 2014–15 to Rs. 4.49 lakh crore in 2025–26—a growth of more than 4.5 times over 11 years. This significant increase reflects the growing importance of gender-focused financing as a core element of India’s development strategy.

During the consultation, a special session titled ‘Twenty Years of Gender Budgeting in India: Achievements and Challenges’ traced the evolution of gender budgeting since its formal introduction in 2005–06. Initially seen as a budget statement reporting on gender-specific allocations, gender budgeting has transformed into a core instrument of planning and governance, informing program design, policy-making, and resource allocation.

The Ministry also presented a draft Training Manual on Gender Budgeting, which will soon be finalized and disseminated across departments and training institutes. This manual is expected to play a pivotal role in capacity building, enabling officials at all levels to better understand and integrate gender perspectives in planning and implementation.

Several Central Ministries, Departments, and State Governments presented their success stories, innovations, and learnings on gender budgeting during the consultation. These ranged from sector-specific programs such as health, education, rural development, and entrepreneurship, to cross-sectoral approaches that ensure gender equity in climate resilience, urban planning, and digital literacy.

Each of these examples reflected how Ministries are moving beyond symbolic interventions to design programs that are data-driven, need-based, and outcome-oriented.

The National Consultation on Gender Budgeting reaffirmed the Government’s belief that equity in governance begins with equity in budgeting. Through collaborative effort, inter-ministerial cooperation, and stakeholder engagement, gender budgeting in India is poised to make deeper inroads into the planning and finance systems across sectors and regions.

As India moves towards realizing the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, this consultation represents a vital step in ensuring that no one is left behind, especially the women who form the backbone of India’s socio-economic fabric.