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The Centre has increased allocations for women and girls by 11.55 per cent to ₹5.01 lakh crore in the 2026-27 Union Budget, up from ₹4.49 lakh crore in the previous financial year, according to the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) released on Wednesday.

 

The Gender Budget Statement consolidates allocations for schemes exclusively meant for women and girls, as well as the proportion of funds earmarked for them within broader welfare and development programmes across ministries. It is aimed at tracking public expenditure to promote gender equality.

 

The share of the gender budget in the total Union Budget has risen to 9.37 per cent in 2026–27 from 8.86 per cent in the preceding year, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a statement.

 

The allocations form part of the Union Budget 2026–27 presented in Parliament by Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

 

This year, 53 ministries and departments, along with five Union Territories, have reported allocations under the gender budget, compared to 49 ministries and departments and five UTs in the previous fiscal.

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Under Part A of the GBS, which includes schemes that are 100 per cent women-specific, ₹1,07,688.42 crore, or 21.50 per cent of the total allocation, has been reported by nine ministries and one UT.

 

Part B, which covers schemes where 30 to 99 per cent of allocations benefit women, accounts for ₹3,63,412.37 crore, or 72.54 per cent of the total. These allocations have been reported by 28 ministries and one UT.

 

Meanwhile, Part C, comprising schemes with less than 30 per cent allocation for women, accounts for ₹29,777.94 crore, or 5.95 per cent of the total, reported by 37 ministries and five UTs.

 

Among the ministries reporting more than 30 per cent of their overall allocations within the gender budget are the Ministry of Women and Child Development at 81.73 per cent, the Department of Rural Development at 69.92 per cent, and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region at 48.60 per cent.

 

The government said the enhanced outlay reflects its continued focus on gender-responsive budgeting and strengthening interventions aimed at women’s empowerment, welfare and inclusive development.