Understanding Bihar's Pioneering Gender Budget Initiative
Bihar's Gender Budget represents a transformative financial framework dedicated exclusively to women-centric schemes, with the state government spending a staggering Rs 2.5 lakh crore over the past five years. This allocation constitutes approximately 20 percent of the total state budget, underscoring a deep commitment to advancing gender equality and women's welfare. Originally conceptualized and implemented by former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi in 2008-09, the Gender Budget has evolved into a cornerstone of the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration's annual fiscal planning.
The Evolution and Impact of Gender Budget Allocations
Government data reveals a dynamic trajectory in Gender Budget expenditures, reflecting strategic shifts in policy priorities. In 2022-23, the allocation stood at Rs 41,864 crore, accounting for 18.05 percent of the total budget. This figure surged dramatically to Rs 75,691 crore, or 30.03 percent, in 2023-24, marking a peak in dedicated funding for women's initiatives. Although there was a decline to Rs 39,034 crore (14 percent) in 2024-25, the budget rebounded to Rs 48,657 crore (15.3 percent) in 2025-26. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, announced on February 3, the Nitish government has earmarked Rs 46,000 crore, representing 13.25 percent of the total budget, targeted at women's employment, education, and welfare schemes.
Key Schemes Driving Women's Empowerment
The Gender Budget encompasses a wide array of impactful programs designed to uplift women across Bihar. Notable initiatives include:
- CM Women Employment Scheme (Dashhazari scheme): This flagship program has disbursed Rs 10,000 to 1.52 crore prospective women entrepreneurs, with plans for a second instalment of Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 based on business proposals. It is credited with playing a major role in the NDA's landslide victory in the 2025 Assembly polls.
- Education Support: Programs such as bicycles for girls, school uniforms, scholarships, and fee waivers from Classes 1 to post-graduate levels aim to enhance female literacy and educational attainment.
- Entrepreneurship and Financial Aid: Loans and subsidies of up to Rs 10 lakh for women entrepreneurs, coupled with insurance cover, foster economic independence and business growth.
Political and Social Implications
The Gender Budget has proven to be a game-changer in consolidating a "caste-neutral" constituency of women, one of the NDA's largest voter bases. By systematically allocating substantial funds to women-centric schemes, the Nitish Kumar government has cultivated strong political support while driving social progress. In his Budget speech on February 3, Bihar Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to women empowerment through various measures, highlighting the ongoing disbursal under the CM Women Empowerment Scheme.
Administrative Framework and Future Outlook
A senior bureaucrat noted that the Gender Budget was Sushil Kumar Modi's innovative idea, involving officials from each department segregating women-centric schemes to prepare detailed allocations. The government is scheduled to present a separate Gender Budget with a comprehensive breakup at the end of the month. However, with additional disbursals like the second instalment of the CM Women Employment Scheme, actual expenditures may exceed the conservative Rs 46,000 crore allocation for 2026-27, indicating potential overshoots in funding.
Overall, Bihar's Gender Budget stands as a model for targeted fiscal policy, demonstrating how strategic investments in women's welfare can yield significant political, economic, and social dividends, empowering millions and shaping the state's developmental narrative.
