Empowering Women and Girls: Key Highlights from India’s Union Budget 2025-2026
he Union Budget 2025-2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, underscores the Indian government’s commitment to the empowerment and welfare of women and girls.ith a significant increase in the Gender Budget allocation, the budget introduces several initiatives aimed at enhancing opportunities and support for women across various sectors. Increased Gender Budget Allocation
he Gender Budget allocation has risen to 8.86% of the total Union Budget in FY 2025-26, up from 6.8% in 2024-25.his translates to ₹4.49 lakh crore dedicated to the welfare of women and girls, marking a 37.25% increase from the previous year’s allocation of ₹3.27 lakh crore.citeturn0search12 New Scheme for First-Time Women Entrepreneurs
notable initiative in this budget is the launch of a scheme targeting first-time entrepreneurs among women, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST).he scheme aims to support 5 lakh beneficiaries by providing term loans of up to ₹2 crore over the next five years.t also includes online capacity building for entrepreneurship and managerial skills, drawing lessons from the successful Stand-Up India scheme.citeturn0search4 Sector-Specific Support Benefiting Women
he budget introduces measures in labor-intensive sectors that traditionally employ a significant number of women:
- Footwear and Leather Industry: focus product scheme will be implemented to enhance productivity, quality, and competitiveness.his initiative is expected to facilitate employment for 22 lakh individuals, with a substantial portion being women.citeturn0search4
- Toy Manufacturing Sector: ecognizing the potential for employment, especially among women, the budget proposes measures to support the toy sector, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing and job creation.citeturn0search4 Conclusion
he Union Budget 2025-2026 reflects a robust commitment to the empowerment of women and girls in India.hrough increased funding and targeted schemes, the government aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment, fostering economic participation and entrepreneurship among women. Keywords: Union Budget 2025-2026, women’s empowerment, Gender Budget allocation, women entrepreneurs, labor-intensive sectors, India.
For a detailed overview of the schemes announced for women’s empowerment, you can watch Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech:
