The article explores how India’s gender responsive budgeting initiative requires more than simply earmarking funds for women-centred schemes. Originally launched in 2005 and now covering about 8.8 % of the Union Budget, the practice must evolve to deliver real outcomes. 

States such as Kerala and Odisha are cited for institutionalising gender budgeting by devolving finance to local self-governments, adopting lifecycle approaches and including infrastructure for women. Nonetheless, the article warns of lingering challenges: inadequate disaggregated data, weak gender budget cells, little integration of the unpaid care economy into fiscal frameworks, and uneven performance across states.

The key argument is that budget allocations alone do not guarantee gender equality. Implementation, monitoring, local governance participation and addressing intersectionality (tribals, Dalits, trans communities) matter for translating policy into change