Thu Jun 19 13:51:04 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Indian Central government announced a significant increase in Gender Budget allocations, rising from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26. This represents a four-and-a-half-fold increase over the past 11 years. Union Minister Annapurna Devi highlighted the evolution of Gender Budgeting from a fiscal reporting mechanism to a strategic tool for gender equality and women empowerment. A National Consultation on Gender Budgeting was held, attended by officials from various ministries and states, as well as representatives from international organizations. The government also launched the ‘Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub,’ a web portal designed to provide resources and support for integrating a gender perspective into planning and budgeting at all levels. The Minister emphasized that Gender Budgeting is a commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all, and highlighted the 37% increase in Gender Budget allocation for the financial year 2025-26. Discussions were held on a draft ‘Training Manual’ to build capacity in Gender Budgeting.

**News Article:**

**India’s Gender Budget Soars as Government Prioritizes Equality**

*New Delhi, June 19, 2025* – The Indian Central government has announced a dramatic surge in its Gender Budget allocations, signaling a reinforced commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Allocations have jumped to ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26, a four-and-a-half-fold increase from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15.

The announcement was made at a National Consultation on Gender Budgeting, where Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi underscored the transformation of Gender Budgeting into a core element of India’s development strategy. “Gender budgeting is not just a policy tool—it is our collective commitment to ensuring that every rupee spent carries the promise of equity, dignity, and opportunity for all,” she stated.

The 2025-26 allocation represents a 37% increase over the previous year, further demonstrating the government’s prioritization of gender-focused initiatives. The consultation, attended by senior officials from 40 central ministries and departments, 19 states, UN Women, the Asian Development Bank, and national experts, focused on strengthening gender budgeting processes across sectors.

A key development was the launch of the ‘Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub,’ a comprehensive web portal intended to serve as a centralized resource for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders. This hub will offer policy briefs, best practices, and gender-disaggregated data to facilitate the integration of a gender lens into all stages of planning and budgeting.

Furthermore, discussions were held on a draft ‘Training Manual’ on Gender Budgeting, designed to enhance capacity-building efforts in this crucial area. The government aims to use this manual to promote a more holistic understanding of gender budgeting among policymakers and stakeholders. The consultation underscores India’s commitment to advancing gender equality through policy and public finance, signaling a significant step towards a more equitable future.

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