Title: Gender responsive budgeting: the case of India

Authors: Sri Ranjani Mukundan

Addresses: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Rd, 259772, Singapore

Abstract: Gender inequality is a major concern that governments are trying to address worldwide. It is estimated that bridging gender gap in India alone would increase the business-as-usual GDP by 18% by 2025, according to McKinsey Global Institute (2018). Given this, one of the most efficient ways to target the right audience could be through public budget, by allocating efficiently. Gender responsive budgeting (GRB) was officially introduced in India in 2005. This paper will discuss different stages of GRB in the Indian context: from collecting gender-disaggregated data to publishing handbooks on implementation frameworks. It will also discuss how impediments were overcome at various phases and lessons learned during the same. Some potential learning includes how GRB can act as a potent policy instrument to reduce inequality and foster inclusion. This will also discuss existing gaps and provide recommendations to solve the same.

Keywords: gender equality; budgeting; India; fiscal tool; policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2021.116811

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2021 Vol.4 No.2, pp.116 - 126

Received: 24 Apr 2020
Accepted: 21 Aug 2020
Published online: 03 Aug 2021 *

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