Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's presentation of the Union Budget 2025-26 on February 1, 2025, marked a considerable advancement in gender budgeting. The Gender Budget allocation increased from 6.8% of the overall Union Budget in FY 2024-25 to 8.86%.
The ₹4.49 lakh crore allocation for women and girls represents a 37.25% increase over the ₹3.27 lakh crore allocation for the previous year. Furthermore, it is the largest number of contributors to the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) since its start, with 49 Ministries/Departments and 5 UTs reporting gender-specific allocations.
Gender Budget Highlights (FY 2025-26)
The GBS currently accounts for 9% of overall expenditures in FY 2025–2026, up from 5% in FY 2019–20.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Gender Budget Allocation | ₹4.49 lakh crore (37.25% increase from ₹3.27 lakh crore in FY 2024-25) |
| Share in Union Budget | Increased to 8.86% (from 6.8% in FY 2024-25) |
| Reporting Ministries/Departments | Expanded to 49 (previously 38) |
| Reporting Union Territories (UTs) | 5 UTs have contributed to Gender Budget allocations |
Gender Budget Breakdown (FY 2025-26)
Check the table below to know the percentage of the fund allocated for women in different types of government schemes:
| Part | Description | Amount | Percentage of Total GBS |
| Part A | 100% women-specific schemes | ₹1,05,535.40 crore | 23.50% |
| Part B | 30-99% allocation for women | ₹3,26,672.00 crore | 72.75% |
| Part C | Below 30% allocation for women | ₹16,821.28 crore | 3.75% |
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List of Ministries with Highest Gender Budget Allocations
With almost 82% of its funds allocated to programs that benefit women and girls, WCD ministry leads the top 10 ministries and departments that have reported allocating more than 30% of their budgets in the gender budget for 2025–2026.
| Ministry/Department | Percent Allocation in Gender Budget |
| Ministry of Women & Child Development | 81.79% |
| 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% |
Even though the overall amount has increased, Part A, which consists of 100% women-specific initiatives, has stagnated over time. This implies that although more programs are taking gender equality into account, the overall amount allotted to women-focused schemes may not be rising as much.
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