Women-led development is the focus of fiscal year 2025-26 Budget

The fiscal year 2025-2026 Union Budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, marks a transformative moment for women's empowerment in India, underscoring the government's commitment to fostering gender equality through targeted investments and policies.

- KSHIPRA SIMON

This year's budget places women at the core of India's growth agenda, with an emphasis on facilitating women's participation in the workforce, encouraging entrepreneurship, and driving rural prosperity. Through the introduction of initiatives like the scheme for first-time women entrepreneurs and a multisector rural prosperity program, the government aims to address longstanding gender gaps in economic opportunities and secure a future of 'women-led development' as part of India's vision for becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GENDER BUDGET 2025-26

The Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for 2025-26 has seen an unprecedented increase in its allocation. At Rs 4.49 lakh crore, which constitutes 8.86% of the total Union Budget, it reflects a remarkable 37.5% rise from the previous fiscal year's allocation of Rs 3.27 lakh crore. This increase is not merely a number; it symbolizes the government's evolving focus on women's empowerment.

The Gender Budget is the largest-ever in India's history, highlighting the commitment of the women face across education, health, welfare, and economic empowerment. This allocation covers programs across 49 ministries that are explicitly designed to benefit women, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to gender equality.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS