Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar’s gender budget presentation given in legislative assembly says the entire allocation for women in 2025-26 is Rs 64,008 crore.
From 8.63 per cent (according to the revised estimate for year 2024-25), the allocation for women, girls, and third gender has dropped to 8.45 per cent of the total budget expenditure (according to the budget forecasts for year 2025-26).
In absolute terms, though, it has grown from Rs 62,947 crore (in revised estimate 2024-25) to Rs 64,008 crore according to budget estimate of 2025-26.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar’s gender budget report given in legislative assembly says the overall allocation for women in 2025-26 is Rs 64,008 crore.
The drop in the number could be ascribed to the CM Majhi Ladki Bahin’s allotment of funds being cut to Rs 36,000 crore from Rs 46,000 crore in the last budget.
According to the kid budget statement, approximately 13.28% of the overall expenditure has been set aside for children’s programmes; the revised projections for 2024-25 show 12.99%.
According to the announcement, the entire budget size is projected to be Rs 7,57,576 crore, of which Rs 64,008 crore is for women, girls and third gender.
Of this, Rs 40,602 crore is intended for 100 percent direct gender budget expenditure; Rs 23,406 crore is for less than 100 percent direct expenditure.
While the other part comprises programmes that might benefit both men and women (scholarships, housing and livelihood supply), the 100 percent direct expenditure indicates the initiatives are meant primarily for women, girls, and third gender.
In its election manifesto, the Mahayuti has pledged to raise the monthly award of CM Ladki Bahin Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100.
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