Budget 2026-27: Key Initiatives for Women's Empowerment

By: WE Staff

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on February 1, 2026, represents a landmark effort to foster women’s empowerment across India. With an estimated total of Rs 46.9 lakh crore, the budget not only addresses macroeconomic goals but also prioritizes gender equality and the economic inclusion of women. Key proposals aim to transform women’s participation in education, entrepreneurship, and the workforce, providing a robust foundation for their future success.

A major highlight is the creation of a nationwide network of girls' hostels to support female students pursuing STEM education, ensuring safety and accessibility. Additionally, the introduction of SHE-Marts is set to empower rural women entrepreneurs, giving them the necessary platforms to scale their businesses. Expanding support for women-led enterprises further bolsters the government's commitment to inclusive growth.

The budget also includes significant investments in research and development, particularly focused on strengthening women’s roles in STEM fields, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These initiatives aim to equip women with the tools needed to lead and innovate across various sectors.

Here are the key initiatives announced for women that you must know:

Key Announcements for Women:

Girls’ Hostels in Every District: A groundbreaking Rs 10,000 crore initiative will establish girls’ hostels in every district, with a focus on smaller towns and rural areas. This move addresses housing and safety concerns, providing better access to higher education and enhancing workforce participation for women.

University Townships: The government will facilitate the creation of five integrated university townships near industrial logistics hubs, offering a blend of STEM-focused education and safe housing for women students.

SHE-Marts for Rural Women Entrepreneurs: A new initiative will establish community-owned retail outlets, called SHE-Marts, within cluster-level federations. These outlets will allow rural women entrepreneurs to market and sell their products, expanding their reach and visibility.

Support for Women-led Enterprises: Women run 2.2 crore MSMEs, providing jobs to nearly 89 lakh women. The Budget further strengthens this sector with financial support, training programs, and district-level initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs.

Focus on Higher Education & STEM: The Budget prioritizes university townships near industrial corridors and promotes women’s participation in STEM fields through AI-driven skilling and R&D investments.

Economic Empowerment & Workforce Participation:

First-Time Women Entrepreneurs: A new scheme offers term loans of up to Rs 2 crore for first-time women business owners, with special provisions for women entrepreneurs.

Agricultural & Rural Growth: The Budget supports rural women with schemes for fisheries development (500 reservoirs) and a new Coconut Promotion Scheme to increase incomes.

Digital Skills: AI and technology upskilling initiatives will allocate 33% of the India AI Mission to women in STEM.

Sector-Specific Focus:

Sports: Initiatives in youth skilling and AI-driven sports analytics will tackle housing and safety barriers for women athletes, opening new opportunities in sports technology.

Content Creation & Digital Economy: Enhanced support for women-led startups in content creation, gaming, and digital entrepreneurship will boost women’s representation in the digital economy.

Tourism: Women will benefit from the development of 15 heritage sites and eco-trails, with a focus on training 10,000 women tourist guides.

General Economic & Social Context:

Higher Gender Budget: Following a 37.5% increase in the previous year, the Gender Budget now constitutes over 8.9% of the total Budget.

Focus on Time Poverty: Policies aimed at reducing women's unpaid domestic and care work include linking housing schemes with enhanced sanitation, water, and hostel safety.

Key Economic Indicators (Budget 2026-27):

Fiscal Deficit: Targeted at 4.3% of GDP for FY27.

Capital Expenditure (Capex): Increased to Rs 12.2 lakh crore to spur infrastructure development.

Economic Growth: Projected between 6.8% and 7.2% for FY27.

The 2026 Budget marks a bold step towards embedding gender equity within India’s growth story, with a strong focus on education, entrepreneurship, and women’s participation in key sectors. By transforming the "Nari Shakti" narrative into tangible economic progress, the Budget seeks to expand women’s agency, income, and access to the formal economy.