Union Budget 2026: Nari shakti continues to form the core of Modi Budget 2026-27, gender budget soars to Rs 5.08 lakh cr

Nari shakti continues to form the core of Modi Budget 2026-27. Gender budget soars to Rs 5.08 lakh cr

India’s Gender Budget continued with its upward trajectory, reaching Rs 5.08 lakh cr, its highest level in terms of absolute outlay and share of the Union Budget.  Revised estimates for FY 2025-26, were at Rs 3.9 lakh cr.

India’s gender budget which includes allocations for schemes and ministries  with a focus on women was allocated Rs5.08 lakh cr in Budget 2026-27,  higher than Rs 4.49 lakh cr  allocated in FY 2025-26, which was about 8.86% of the total union budget.

Flagship schemes such as PM Kisan Yojana was allocated Rs 15,240 Cr ,same as the revised and budget estimates for FY 2025-26. The freshly announced rural employment scheme, which replaces MGNREGS, was allocated Rs 44,506 cr,  the Jal Jeevan Mission has been allocated Rs33022  cr ,  up from the Budget estimates of Rs 20476 Cr for FY 2025-26 – the mission barely spent Rs8306 cr of the amount allocated.

In the last five years, there has been a significant uptick in the outlay for gender budget. From Rs 1.54 lakh cr in 2021-22 (4.4%) of India’s GDP to Rs 4.49  lakh cr in 2025-26 ( 8.86% of the Union Budget) to Rs 5.08 Lakh cr for FY 2026-27.

Under Part A of the Gender Budget, there are 100 per cent women-specific schemes; Part B includes schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana which are between 30 and 99% women-specific, Part C includes below 30% allocation.