Analysis of the Union Government’s Gender Budget Statement 2021-22.

Abstract

Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) can be a powerful strategy for empowering women and achieving gender equality, by addressing gender concerns along the policy cycle of planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring. India has been using a variety of tools and mechanisms to implement GRB. Of these, a significant instrument is the Union Gender Budget Statement (GBS), which has been published every year since 2005-06. Every year, a few months before the preparation of the annual budget, the Ministry of Finance issues a budget circular. The circular directs all Ministries/Departments to compile and present the quantum of public expenditure earmarked for women, which is then reported in the GBS. This includes allocations which are either exclusively targeted at women or are gender-sensitive in nature.