Reflections on the Union Budget of India 2024-25 from a gender lens
2024
Discussion Paper
GRB
The institutionalization of the gender budget since 2004-2005 by the Government of India has been a laudable effort, especially the welcome announcement in the Union Budget 2024-2025 (UB) of the total allocation to the gender budget (GB) at INR 3,27.158.44 crore, which is a share of over 6 per cent to the total expenditure, an increase from the previous year. The Statements in the Economic Survey 2023-2024 about India transitioning from women’s development to ‘women-led development’ with the vision of a new India, where women are equal partners in the story of growth and national progress” raises hopes further. Given this promising scenario, as part of the Feminist Policy Collective, the authors examine the Union Budget from a gender lens and share some key observations. Tackling gender inequalities in India requires a focus on GRB in a way that considers the multiple deprivations faced by women, men, non-binary persons and children across various social positions and identities. Unfortunately, our analysis finds this has not been reflected in the Union Budget and there is skepticism about the extent to which this is actually reflected in the Gender Budget Statement.