Union Budget 2026-27: Women and Girls Receive Increased Funding
On February 1, 2026, the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in Parliament. This budget highlights a significant increase in financial allocations aimed at improving the welfare of women and girls, marking a step forward in gender-focused fiscal policies.
The Gender Budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year has risen to 9.37% of the total Union Budget, an increase from 8.86% in the previous year. Specifically, a robust sum of Rs. 5.01 lakh crore has been earmarked for initiatives supporting women and girls. This represents an 11.55% increase from the Rs. 4.49 lakh crore allocated in FY 2025-26.
Record Participation in Gender Budget Reporting
This year, 53 Ministries and Departments, along with 5 Union Territories (UTs), have reported allocations under the Gender Budget Statement. This marks the highest participation since the inception of the Gender Budget, improving from 49 Ministries/Departments and 5 UTs in the prior fiscal year. Notably, four new Ministries/Departments have joined the ranks this year.
These entities have reported their allocations in various parts of the Gender Budget Statement. Out of the total Rs. 5.01 lakh crore, Rs. 1,07,688.42 crore (21.50%) has been documented by 9 Ministries/Departments and 1 UT specifically for women-centered schemes, categorized as Part A. Part B has seen an allocation of Rs. 3,63,412.37 crore (72.54%) from 28 Ministries/Departments and 1 UT for programs with 30-99% funding directed towards women. Finally, Part C accounts for Rs. 29,777.94 crore (5.95%) from 37 Ministries/Departments and 5 UTs where less than 30% of the funding targets female beneficiaries.
Leading Contributors to the Gender Budget
In the 2026-27 fiscal year, several Ministries and Departments have emerged as leading contributors, each allocating significant portions of their budgets to gender-focused initiatives. The top-performing entities include:
- Ministry of Women & Child Development – 81.73%
- Department of Rural Development – 69.92%
- Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region – 48.60%
- Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation – 48.04%
- Department of Food and Public Distribution – 46.34%
- Department of Health and Family Welfare – 40.44%
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy – 39.05%
- Department of Higher Education – 32.25%
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj – 30.93%
- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas – 30.22%
- Department of School Education and Literacy – 30.10%
This comprehensive budget allocation reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the status and welfare of women and girls in India, aiming to create a more equitable society through targeted funding and support.
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