GENDER BUDGETING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India is considering a major change in the annual budget to better capture spending on gender equality and women’s empowerment. This will entail a revamp in the gender budget statement that’s part of the annual exercise.

Gender Budgeting

• About: According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), gender budgeting is a tool to achieve gender mainstreaming incorporating a gender perspective and sensitivity at all levels so as to ensure that the benefits of development reach women as much as men. 
• Aim: Finding out whether women and men can access the same opportunities equally. 
• Adoption: The Government of India had adopted Gender Budgeting in 2005-06. The government publishes a Gender Budget Statement(GBS) every year along with the Union Budget.
• Benefits: Promotes gender equality, improved resource allocation, better targeting, economic growth, political empowerment, reduces gender-based violence, accountability and transparency etc.