Gender Budget 2026–27: ₹5.01 Lakh Crore Allocated for Women, Share Rises to 9.37%

New Delhi, February 18, 2026: The Government of India has reported an allocation of ₹5.01 lakh crore for the welfare of women and girls in the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for FY 2026–27, marking an 11.55% increase over the ₹4.49 lakh crore allocation in FY 2025–26.

The details were presented following the Union Budget 2026–27 tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2026 by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman.

Gender Budget Share Rises to 9.37%

The share of Gender Budget allocation in the total Union Budget has increased to 9.37% in FY 2026–27, up from 8.86% in FY 2025–26, reflecting a continued emphasis on gender-responsive budgeting.

Highest Ever Ministry Participation

A total of 53 Ministries/Departments and 5 Union Territories have reported allocations under the Gender Budget Statement this fiscal year, compared to 49 Ministries/Departments and 5 UTs in FY 2025–26.

This marks the highest participation since the inception of the Gender Budget Statement, with four new Ministries/Departments reporting allocations in FY 2026–27.

Allocation Breakdown Across GBS Categories

The Gender Budget Statement is categorized into three parts:

• Part A (100% women-specific schemes):
  ₹1,07,688.42 crore (21.50% of total GBS allocation) reported by 9 Ministries/Departments and 1 UT

• Part B (30–99% allocation for women):
  ₹3,63,412.37 crore (72.54%) reported by 28 Ministries/Departments and 1 UT

• Part C (Below 30% allocation for women):
  ₹29,777.94 crore (5.95%) reported by 37 Ministries/Departments and 5 UTs

Top Ministries Reporting Over 30% Allocation

The top 11 Ministries/Departments reporting more than 30% of their total allocations under the Gender Budget for FY 2026–27 include:

• Ministry of Women and 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%

The expanded reporting and increased allocation underscore the government’s continued commitment to gender-responsive planning and targeted welfare interventions for women and girls.