PIB Summaries 04 July 2025

Content:

1. Breaking Barriers: Gender Budgeting as a Catalyst for Inclusion

Breaking Barriers: Gender Budgeting as a Catalyst for Inclusion

“Budgets are never gender-neutral. Every rupee spent or not spent reflects a policy choice.” – Diane Elson

Gender Budgeting is a policy strategy that integrates a gender perspective into all stages of the budgetary process to ensure public spending addresses the specific needs of women and promotes gender equity.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Social Issues ) . GS 3(Budgett )

Fiscal Commitment & Budgetary Trends

• Gender Budget allocation rose from ₹0.98 lakh crore (2014-15) to ₹4.49 lakh crore (2025-26).
• Share in total Union Budget increased from 5.46% to 8.86%, reflecting stronger policy prioritization for women.
• Indicates consistent government intent to embed gender equity into fiscal planning.

Evolution of Gender Budgeting in India

Structural Framework of India’s Gender Budget

• Part A: 100% women-centric schemes (e.g. maternity benefits, women shelters).
• Part B: Schemes with ≥30% allocation to women (e.g. rural employment, health).
• Part C (added in 2024-25): Schemes with <30% allocation but with indirect benefits to women.
• Inclusion of Part C shows move toward comprehensive gender inclusivity across all schemes.

Top Ministries Allocating Over 30% to Gender Initiatives (FY 2025–26)

• Ministry of Women and Child Development – 81.79%
• Department of Rural Development – 65.76%
• Department of Food & Public Distribution – 50.92%
• 10+ ministries now allocate over 30% of their budgets to gender-responsive schemes, signaling mainstreaming of GRB across sectors.

Institutional Mechanisms and Capacity Building

• Gender Budget Cells set up in Ministries/Departments ensure sectoral integration.
• Mandatory GBS inclusion ensures transparency and accountability in fiscal documents.
• MoWCD leads capacity-building through manuals, toolkits, and training workshops.
• States’ adoption of GRB encourages contextual, decentralized solutions.

Use of Technology & Knowledge Platforms

• Launch of the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub (June 2025) as a digital repository.
• Aims to support policy practitioners, central/state departments, and civil society.
• Facilitates knowledge-sharing, cross-learning, and improved policy design.

Impact-Oriented Shift

• Focus shifting from input (funds spent) to outcome-based impact assessment.
• Push for sex-disaggregated data collection aids in monitoring real beneficiaries.
• Evaluative tools help refine schemes based on effectiveness and reach.

Influence on Policy Design

• GRB has led to emergence of women-centric schemes (e.g. Stand-Up India, Beti Bachao).
• Existing schemes are being restructured with gender lenses (e.g. MGNREGA, PMAY).
• Encourages multi-sectoral approaches—health, education, skilling, entrepreneurship.

Global Recognition and Comparative Standing

• Compared favorably with Bangladesh and Rwanda (ORF, 2020) in GRB institutionalization.
• India stands out for integration at multiple governance levels and policy rigor.
• However, still evolving on aspects like targeted outcome assessment and intersectional budgeting.

Challenges Ahead

• Quality and reliability of sex-disaggregated data still uneven across ministries.
• Tokenism risk in low-impact Part C schemes unless accompanied by gender audits.
• Need for greater convergence with SDG 5 targets (Gender Equality) in planning.
• Inadequate focus on intra-gender disparities (rural/urban, caste, disabled women).

Relevant Data & Facts

• 15th Finance Commission: ₹5,000 crore allocated (2021–26) for gender-based performance incentives to states.
• Female LFPR: Rose to 37.0% (2023-24) from 23.3% (2017-18) — reflects impact of women-focused schemes.
• PMMVY: Over 3.2 crore women received ₹5,000 maternity benefit since 2017.
• SHGs (NRLM): 9 crore women in 83+ lakh SHGs by March 2024 — key for rural empowerment.
• Part C Gender Tagging: New in 2024-25 — included schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Smart Cities.
• Global Gender Gap Index 2024: India ranks 127/146; major gaps in economic and political spheres.
• MKSP: Reached 37 lakh women farmers — integrates gender in agriculture budgeting.

Rwanda: Global Best Practice in Gender Budgeting

• Constitutional Backing: Gender equality and budgeting are legally mandated in Rwanda’s Constitution post-1994.
• Mandatory Gender Budget Statements (GBS): All ministries must submit GBS alongside annual budgets.
• Independent Gender Monitoring Office (GMO): Monitors compliance and evaluates outcomes across sectors.
• Sector-Specific Gender Indicators: Each ministry uses tailored indicators (e.g. in health, education, agriculture).
• Gender-Responsive Guidelines: Ministry of Finance issues GRPB Guidelines to standardize practices.
• High Political Representation: 64% of MPs are women—world’s highest female parliamentary presence.
• Outcome-Driven Allocation: Over 40% of Rwanda’s budget contributes directly to gender equality outcomes.
• Women’s Land Ownership: Rose from 10% (2000) to 26% (2020) through gender-focused land reforms.
• Health Impact: Maternal mortality dropped by 70% (2000–2020) due to targeted investments.
• Global Model: Rwanda shows how legal mandates + monitoring + outcome tracking make GRB effective, not symbolic.

Indian Case Study – Odisha & Kerala’s GRB Models

• Odisha was the first state to adopt a Gender Budgeting Mission (2020) with technical support from UN Women.
• Integrated gender budgeting in the state budget circular; departments submit Gender Budget Statements annually.
• Developed sector-specific Gender Budget Guidelines and linked them with outcome budgets.
• Kerala institutionalized GRB through its State Planning Board and local governments (Panchayats) since early 2000s.
• Kerala’s GRB initiatives led to women-centric micro plans in health, livelihoods, and care economy (e.g. Kudumbashree).

Legal Linkages – Constitution & Gender Budgeting

• Article 14: Guarantees equality before law — GRB ensures equitable access to state resources.
• Article 15(3): Permits special provisions for women and children — the basis for targeted budgetary support.
• Article 39(a): Calls for equal right to adequate means of livelihood for men and women.
• Article 39(d): Advocates for equal pay for equal work — relevant to employment-linked schemes.
• Article 42: Directs the state to ensure maternity relief — implemented through schemes like PMMVY under Gender Budget.

SDG Mapping – Gender Budget & Global Goals

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): GRB helps achieve targets like ending discrimination (5.1) and leadership participation (5.5).
• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Women-focused schemes (e.g. NRLM, DBT) directly tackle feminized poverty.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth): Supports women’s access to employment, credit, and skill training.
• SDG 5.a: Ensures women’s equal access to economic assets like land and finance — aligned with SHG and MKSP goals.
• GRB also supports cross-cutting SDGs like health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and water (SDG 6).

Evaluation – CAG, NITI Aayog & UN Women Findings

• CAG (2022) noted gaps in coordination between ministries and Gender Budget Cells; suggested better monitoring.
• NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index includes a Gender Equality Index, which shows uneven GRB adoption across states.
• UN Women (2021) found that while allocations rose, impact tracking and beneficiary targeting remain weak.
• Studies highlight that many ministries still treat GRB as a formality, not linked to outcome budgeting.
• Recommendations include strengthening sex-disaggregated data and conducting regular gender audits of schemes.

Way Forward

• Integrate GRB into mid-term expenditure frameworks (MTEF) for long-term impact.
• Institutionalize Gender Outcome Budgets beyond just input tracking.
• Use gender audits and social audits for real-time monitoring and accountability.
• Leverage data tools (AI/ML) for predictive analytics and scheme targeting.