New Delhi: In a significant move toward inclusive governance and in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, today hosted the first-ever National Consultation on Gender Budgeting at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The landmark event brought together senior officials from 40 central ministries and departments, 19 state governments, as well as representatives from UN Women, the Asian Development Bank, and leading national institutes.
The day-long consultation focused on strengthening gender-responsive planning and budgeting processes across all sectors of governance. Participants exchanged best practices and explored strategies to enhance the institutionalization of gender budgeting in government schemes and programs.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, inaugurated the event and launched the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub, a digital platform developed by the Ministry. The portal will serve as a central repository of information, tools, data, and resources related to gender budgeting for use by both central and state-level officials, as well as other stakeholders involved in gender-inclusive governance.
In her address, the Union Minister emphasized the transformational shift in the way gender budgeting is being approached under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Gender budgeting is no longer merely a fiscal accounting tool—it has evolved into a strategic governance mechanism that shapes a more just, empowered, and inclusive India,” she said. “We are no longer just investing in women; we are investing in the future of our nation. Women today are innovators, leaders, and key drivers of India’s growth story.”
Highlighting the financial commitment of the government, the Minister noted that the gender budget allocation for the financial year 2025–26 stands at ₹4.49 lakh crore—marking a 37% increase from the previous year. She pointed out that over the past 11 years, India’s gender budget has increased more than fourfold, rising from ₹98,000 crore in 2014–15 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in the current fiscal year.
During the consultation, participants also discussed the two-decade journey of gender budgeting in India, evaluating its achievements and ongoing challenges. A special session was dedicated to a new draft Training Manual on Gender Budgeting developed by the Ministry, intended as a hands-on guide for officials and practitioners to implement gender-responsive budgeting effectively.
The event reaffirmed the Centre’s vision of ensuring that public finance and policy planning reflect the aspirations and needs of women and girls across all sections of society. With the launch of the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub and renewed commitment from stakeholders, the government aims to strengthen gender equality as a cornerstone of national development.