Bridging the Gender Gap Through Budgeting in the Indian Scenario

Gender budgeting is an essential public financial management (PFM) tool that seeks to integrate gender perspectives into all stages of the budgetary process, aiming to translate gender equality commitments into concrete fiscal policies. In India, the concept has evolved since the 1974 Committee on the Status of Women’s report, gradually gaining traction through institutional reforms and initiatives such as the establishment of the National Commission for Women and reservation for women in local governance. Gender budgeting in India reflects the socio-economic and policy priorities of various Five-Year Plans, transitioning from a welfare approach to one focused on development, empowerment, and mainstreaming of women. Despite these efforts, significant gaps persist in implementation, monitoring, and accountability, particularly at the federal level. International experiences, including those from OECD countries, highlight the importance of legal backing, systematic gender impact assessments, and coordinated approaches between ministries. However, evidence of transformative impact remains limited, underscoring the need for comprehensive needs assessments, capacity building, and participatory processes that involve civil society and gender advocacy groups. In the agricultural sector, gender-responsive extension services are critical yet underdeveloped, with women farmers often having disproportionately low access to advisory services. Gender budgeting offers a vital nexus for aligning public expenditure with gender equality objectives, ensuring that policies and programmes address the distinct needs of women and men. A strategic, data-driven, and inclusive approach is necessary to ensure that gender budgeting becomes an effective instrument for achieving equitable and sustainable development outcomes.