The Gender Budget 2026 in the total Union Budget has increased to 9.37 per cent in FY 2026–27 from 8.86 per cent in FY 2025–26. There are significant increases in schemes related to housing, water, LPG, livelihoods and care. Gender budget 2026-27 An allocation of ₹5.00 lakh crore has been reported for the welfare of women and girls in the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for FY 2026–27, marking an 11.36 per cent increase over the GBS allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore in FY 2025–26. The Gender budget has three parts - Parts A (100 percent women specific), B (30-99 percent), C (less than 30 percent). The respective allocation for each of it is 21.49 percent, 72.56 per cent, 5.95 percent of the gender budget. The largest allocation under Part A goes to PMAY- Gramin, DAY-NRLM, PMAY- Urban, LPG connections and Mission Shakti. Under Part B, the largest allocation is contributed by Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), RCH & Health System Strengthening and Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0. The patterns of the allocations under Part A and B are similar to that of previous years. LPG Scheme under Part A and Jal Jeevan Mission under Part B has significant increase in allocations. 53 Ministries and Departments and five Union Territories have reported allocations this year, compared to 49 Ministries and Departments and five UTs last year, marking the highest reporting since inception. Focus of the gender budget Strengthening the Care Economy and Women's Workforce participation A key highlight of the Budget is its emphasis on building a robust care ecosystem, recognising care work as both a social necessity and a significant source of employment. The proposal to train 1.5 lakh multi-skilled caregivers across geriatric, child, and allied care services will enhance service delivery while creating new avenues of dignified employment, particularly for women. Women’s participation in the health workforce is further strengthened through the expansion of Allied Health Professional (AHP) education. Existing AHP institutions will be upgraded and new institutions established across government and private sectors, covering ten disciplines—including optometry, radiology, anaesthesia, OT technology, applied psychology, and behavioural health. This initiative will add 1 lakh allied health professionals over the next five years. Promoting Women Entrepreneurship and Self- Help Groups To deepen women’s economic participation at the grassroots, the Budget announces the establishment of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts. These community-owned retail outlets, to be set up within cluster-level federations, will provide structured and sustained market access for products manufactured by women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The initiative is expected to enhance incomes, strengthen local value chains, and position women not only as entrepreneurs but also as job creators, particularly across rural and semi-urban regions. The Budget also integrates women-led groups into the fisheries and coastal livelihoods sector. Measures include strengthening market linkages involving start-ups, women-led groups, and Fish Farmers Producer Organisations, along with the integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars. Further, focused support is extended to women-intensive traditional sectors. A National Handloom and Handicraft Programme will consolidate existing schemes, while the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj initiative will strengthen khadi, handloom, and handicrafts through training, skilling, quality enhancement, and global market linkage and branding. Focused Interventions for Divyangjan The Budget reinforces the Government’s commitment to dignity, inclusion, and empowerment of persons with disabilities through the following measures: Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana for industry-relevant, customised skill trainingDivyang Sahara Yojana to ensure timely access to high-quality assistive devicesStrengthening PM Divyasha Kendras as modern, retail-style centresEnhanced support to ALIMCO for scaled-up production, R&D, and adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligenceTogether, these interventions aim to improve employability, independence, and quality of life for Divyangjan nationwide. Mental Health and Child Well- Being Recognising mental health as integral to overall well-being, the Budget proposes the establishment of NIMHANS-2 and the upgradation of National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur. These initiatives will strengthen mental health infrastructure and expand access to specialised services, particularly for women, children, and adolescents. The Budget also supports the establishment of Emergency and Trauma Care Centres in district hospitals, enabling timely interventions and improved health outcomes. Advancing Girl’s Education and Safe Educational Infrastructure In a major step towards equity and safety in higher education, the Budget provides for girls’ hostels in STEM institutions in every district. This initiative will address regional and social disparities, improve enrolment and retention, and enable greater participation of young women in emerging and technology-driven sectors. Budget places strong emphasis on human development, recognising women and children as central to India’s long-term growth and social transformation The Union Budget 2026–27 reflects a governance approach that integrates social inclusion with economic growth, ensuring that every family, community, and region can participate meaningfully in India’s development journey. Source : India Budget