Event Report
Mohd Asif
The IMPRI Center for Gender Impact Studies (GISC) at the IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute in New Delhi hosted a panel discussion titled “Gender, Social Inclusion, and Union Budget 2025–26” on February 4, 2025. This event was part of the 6th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of the Union Budget 2025–26. The discussion aimed to explore key aspects of the Union Budget 2025–26 and its implications for gender equality, specifically focusing on existing gender gaps. Esteemed panelists contributed their insights to the dialogue.
Opening Remarks by Prof. Vibuti Patel
Professor Vibhuti Patel, a Visiting Distinguished Professor at IMPRI and former Professor at TISS, Chair the panel discussion on Gender, Social Inclusion, and the Union Budget 2025–26.
The Union Budget 2025–26 has seen a decline in public spending, particularly in social sectors, raising concerns about gender and social inclusion. The gender budget accounts for 8% of total expenditure (1.6% of GDP), which is significantly lower than the UN-recommended 5% of GDP. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has received less than 1% of the total budget, highlighting the lack of prioritization for gender issues. Education funding has sharply declined, with school education’s share dropping from 3.16% to 1.55% and higher education from 1.26% to below 1%, increasing reliance on private institutions. Healthcare spending has also fallen from 2.31% of GDP (pandemic period) to 1.9%, affecting public health services. MGNREGA funding has decreased from 2.15% to 1.63% of total expenditure, despite an allocation of ₹86,000 crore, which includes pending wage payments. Budget cuts in centrally sponsored schemes (18% decline) have impacted essential welfare programs.
Programs addressing gender-based violence and women’s safety, such as Mission Shakti and Samarthya, have seen a 50% funding cut, while hunger and malnutrition remain pressing concerns. Child development programs (ICDS, PM Poshan, and Anganwadi services) need increased funding to improve meal quality and worker wages.PM Awas Yojana has received 74% of the rural development budget (up from 59%), but implementation efficiency remains a concern. Employment generation through MSMEs is a key focus, yet 48% of MSMEs shut down post-pandemic, requiring urgent financial support. The budget for minorities, persons with disabilities, and gender minorities has been reduced, impacting scholarships and welfare schemes. Rising gender-based violence and low women’s participation in decision-making further highlight the need for gender-responsive policies.
On these lines of key concerns and perspectives, Professor Vibhuti Patel posed the first question to one of the eminent panellists Professor Paramita Saha
Union Budget 2025–26: Bridging Gender Gaps in Health, Education, Employment & Safety or Falling Short?
Paramita Saha, Professor, Department of Economics, Tripura University
Began her presentation by Union Budget’s 2025–26 emphasis on economic growth, inclusive development, and private sector investment, with a focus on the Gareeb (poor), Yuva (youth), Annadata (farmers), and Naari (women) under the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). The GDP is projected to grow at 6.4%, with sector-wise expansions in agriculture (3.48%), industry (6.2%), and services (7.2%). The fiscal deficit target has been reduced to 4.4%, signaling fiscal consolidation. Revenue sources have shifted, with income tax contributing more than corporate tax, while borrowings remain significant. Expenditures are largely directed towards interest payments (20%), central schemes (16%), and state transfers (8%). Unemployment has decreased to 3.2%, though women’s participation in salaried jobs remains low. The MGNREGA budget stagnates, with performance below targets and challenges in effective fund distribution. The gender budget has increased by 37.5%, but questions remain about the actual impact of these funds. In health, ₹39,000 crore has been allocated for research, and Ayushman Bharat has been expanded, though some crucial areas like senior citizen health remain underfunded. Urban and rural development funding is limited, raising concerns about infrastructure and employment. Despite growth-oriented targets, successful implementation in the social sector is critical to achieving sustainable economic and social progress.
Union Budget 2025–26: Delivering on Urban Housing, Women’s Entrepreneurship, and Marginalized Communities’ Needs?
Professor N. Manimekalai Director, Centre for Women Development Studies, New Delhi; Visiting Professor, IMPRI
Highlighted critical issues regarding marginalized communities, especially in the informal sector, where over 90% of employment is concentrated. Recent data shows that informal sector participation has risen from below 25% to 37%. Rural employment, however, remains predominantly agricultural and often includes disguised unemployment, with women taking up informal agricultural roles due to male migration.
Industrial clusters, like those in Coimbatore, have created employment opportunities for rural populations, though migrant workers often face inadequate housing and social support. Women in rural areas access these opportunities through support structures like hostels and transport facilities. Despite some budget increases, actual spending often falls short due to underutilization. Private sector investment is encouraged but remains uncertain in its ability to uplift marginalized groups. Tax concessions aimed at the middle class and a ₹12 lakh income exemption are accompanied by cuts in vital sectors like education, healthcare, and transport.
Digital and self-employment are growing, but many workers in home-based businesses are unaccounted for in formal statistics. There is a need for greater recognition and financial support, especially through schemes like UPI and microcredit. Migrant workers, who are vital to many industries, lack adequate housing and social security. While initiatives like the Urban Challenge Fund and Affordable Rental Housing Complexes exist, implementation is inconsistent.
Women entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing formal financial services. Despite recent schemes, such as a ₹2 crore team loan initiative, concerns remain about the reach and effectiveness of these programs, as evidenced by Tamil Nadu’s enterprise development schemes, which reached only a small fraction of eligible women.
Union Budget 2025–26 Advancing Healthcare, Nutrition, and WASH for Urban Poor Women and the Transgender Community?
Ms Supriya Jan, Grassroot leadership and knowledge building, CORO INDIA
Reflected on the Union Budget, by questioning its adequacy in addressing the issues of the work at the grassroots level. While there are schemes targeting rural women, the overall financial commitment remains insufficient, and poor urban women, marginalized groups, and the transgender community seem to be overlooked. The budget does not sufficiently address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs from SC/ST communities or nomadic and primitive tribes, raising concerns about whether they are even considered in policy-making. Despite a 3% increase in the Women and Child Development budget, there is no substantial investment in gender-sensitive public transportation, which remains a critical barrier for urban women. Moreover, job opportunities are concentrated in urban informal sectors with low wages and little security, but the budget fails to address these challenges adequately. While the PM Awas Yojana (Urban) has received an increase in funding, only 73% of the registrations are in women’s names, questioning the genuine empowerment of women through this scheme. In healthcare, initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and Poshan Abhiyan are commendable, but the actual impact on women’s health remains uncertain, with only 30% of the sector’s budget allocated to these programs. Similarly, despite the importance of the National Health Mission, ASHA workers are still paid honorariums instead of fair wages. The educational sector continues to suffer from inadequate infrastructure in government schools, and the conflation of schemes for transgender individuals and beggars under the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise is an inappropriate and ineffective approach. With India’s poor ranking on the Global Gender Gap Index, true economic empowerment for marginalized groups must extend beyond financial support to include education, healthcare, housing, and mobility. The budget also allocates funds for sanitation work, but there is a lack of clarity on their effective implementation, particularly regarding the laws banning manual scavenging. While credit access is essential, systemic barriers remain unaddressed, and without collecting disaggregated data, meaningful progress is hard to measure. Finally, the stagnation of the Matru Vandana Yojana since 2013 is concerning. The budget raises many critical questions, and we must move beyond statistics to ensure effective implementation and real change.
Union Budget 2025–26: Addressing Women in Agriculture, Reproductive Health, Minority Rights, and Senior Welfare or Leaving Gaps?
Dr. G. Uma Associate Professor, School of Gender and Development Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
Highlights that Indian agricultural sector faces significant challenges, particularly regarding female labor force participation, which has increased marginally by only 5.83% over the past three decades. Despite claims in the Economic Survey 2025-26 that labor force participation has risen with population growth and unemployment has declined, historical data shows the highest unemployment rate in 2017-18, exacerbated by economic slowdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed 18 million workers back into agriculture. Despite these issues, the government’s claim of declining unemployment requires scrutiny. Women’s involvement in agriculture is growing, but the budget fails to adequately recognize their role. The creation of 8 crore jobs from 2022 to 2024, mainly in agriculture, hasn’t translated into improved wages, as 80% of agricultural laborers have seen stagnant pay. While the budget focuses on credit access and MSME growth, core agricultural funding, particularly addressing women’s needs, remains insufficient. The allocation for agricultural missions, such as those for pulses and self-sufficiency, remains limited, with a meager 0.36% increase in the sector’s budget, failing to address systemic challenges. Additionally, the lack of recognition of women as farmers and minimal access to credit for them, despite performing 60-70% of farm activities, is a significant oversight. Healthcare and social sector spending, though slightly increased, remain inadequate, particularly for sectors like fisheries, dairy, and handloom, which employ large numbers of women. The healthcare budget, while making cancer drugs more affordable, neglects primary healthcare, especially for marginalized communities, and fails to address pressing needs like elderly care and reproductive health. Rural healthcare, though receiving a budget increase, still suffers from inadequate attention, with the focus remaining on curative care rather than preventive health. Additionally, the lack of a framework ensuring medical graduates serve in rural areas highlights the gaps in the healthcare system, particularly for women and marginalized populations.
Dr Aditi Sawant, Principal SNDT college of arts and SCB College of Commerce and Science
Discusses on gender and social inclusion, focusing on the perspective of an educator. I have identified several key areas concerning women and social inclusion. The recent budget provision for gig workers, including women, is a significant step forward. A report reveals that 28% of gig workers are women, with female employment in urban areas reaching 6.9% in 2021. The gig economy is gradually becoming a vital employment source for women, particularly as they seek alternatives to traditional jobs. Additionally, the government’s decision to increase credit card loan limits from ₹3 lakhs to ₹5 lakhs will help women in rural areas, where many are looking for small-scale businesses as a livelihood. The inclusion of vegetables and pulses in the Anganwadi system will also benefit women and children by ensuring better nutrition. The provision of finance loans for homestays presents a sustainable income option for women in rural tourism, where they can manage homestays and provide services to tourists. In the MSME sector, women represent 20% of business owners and 24% of the workforce, and the government’s initiatives in this area, such as custom credit cards and loans, could further support women entrepreneurs. New sectors, such as electric vehicle and mobile battery production, offer additional opportunities. However, the challenge lies in the proper implementation of these policies, which requires active engagement from educational institutions and technical bodies. Regarding education, the government’s push for 50,000 tinkering labs and investments in AI will bridge the digital divide, particularly for girls in rural areas. Despite these advancements, gender bias remains prevalent, with women often directed toward traditional roles. The introduction of quotas, especially in STEM fields, could significantly reduce these biases. In healthcare, the establishment of daycare cancer centers and the exemption of life-saving drugs from duties are positive steps, but further attention is needed for reproductive health concerns. Overall, while the government’s initiatives show promise, the real challenge is ensuring their effective implementation, requiring holistic efforts from both educational and governmental institutions to achieve tangible change for women.
Ensuring Effective Implementation of Gender-Inclusive Policies: Challenges and the Way Forward
In the Final Round each panelist presented their view on The effective implementation of gender-inclusive policies remains a significant challenge due to administrative inefficiencies and lack of prioritization, particularly at the district and sub-district levels. While some centrally sponsored schemes, such as the Nirbhaya Fund, remain underutilized, highlighting the lack of commitment to gender-based violence, other issues like dysfunctional safety measures in universities and technical failures in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes further hinder progress. To address these gaps, a dedicated Ministry of Gender Equality could centralize efforts, focusing on gender disparities in health, education, and employment. Additionally, empowering women through political representation and leadership development programs is essential to overcome systemic barriers. Ultimately, a gender-inclusive budget must be backed by effective execution, accountability, and institutional support to ensure lasting change and real progress in achieving gender equity.
The panel discussion ended with a Q&A session, and the way forward was outlined by all the panellists, who briefly emphasized the aims of gender inclusivity.The chair of the session Professor Vibhuti Patel concluded the session on Gender, Social Inclusion, and the Union Budget 2025-26 by thanking the panelists for their insightful contributions. The discussion emphasized the Union Budget’s role in macroeconomic stability, fiscal efficiency, and equitable resource distribution. Key points included addressing gender issues, healthcare barriers, and the need for inclusive policies. The importance of increased education budgets, decentralized governance, and greater focus on marginalized groups, such as minorities, persons with disabilities, and the transgender community, was stressed. The session called for more resources for the social sector to ensure social justice and equity.
Acknowledgement: Written by Mohd Asif, Research Intern at IMPRI.
