The Government of India has taken a significant step toward strengthening gender-responsive governance through the launch of the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub. Unveiled during a national consultation in New Delhi, the platform marks a deepened commitment to embedding gender equity into the country’s fiscal planning and policy-making.
Understanding Gender Budgeting
At its core, gender budgeting involves integrating gender perspectives into all stages of the budget cycle. It ensures that public funds are allocated in ways that address the different needs of women and men. Once considered a purely financial tool, gender budgeting has now evolved into a key mechanism for driving inclusive and equitable development policies in India.
What is the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub?
The Knowledge Hub is a digital platform developed to serve as a comprehensive repository of resources related to gender budgeting. It is tailored for use by central ministries, state departments, and institutional stakeholders. The hub is designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, showcase best practices, and promote inter-departmental collaboration.
A Stronger Financial Commitment
For the fiscal year 2025–26, the Government of India has earmarked ₹4.49 lakh crore towards gender budgeting—a 37% increase over the previous year. This figure reflects a fourfold increase from the ₹0.98 lakh crore allocated in 2014–15. The rising budget over the past decade underscores the government’s sustained investment in gender equality.
Highlights from the National Consultation
The launch event brought together senior officials from 40 central ministries and 19 state governments, alongside representatives from UN Women and the Asian Development Bank. The consultation facilitated dialogue on enhancing gender budgeting methodologies, and participants shared successful models from diverse programs and policies.
Capacity Building Through a Training Manual
A key feature of the event was the presentation of a draft Training Manual on Gender Budgeting. This manual is being developed as a practical guide to support capacity building among officials. It offers actionable insights and guidance for implementing gender-sensitive budget practices at all levels of governance.
Reflecting on Two Decades of Progress
The consultation also offered a moment to reflect on India’s two-decade journey in gender budgeting. While notable progress has been achieved, persistent challenges—such as effective implementation and outcome monitoring—were acknowledged. The need for sustained institutional coordination and capacity enhancement was emphasized.
