GENDER BUDGETING IN INDIA: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN FISCAL COMMITMENT AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY

Gender budgeting has become one of the most important tools for substantive equality, meaning that gender is added to public expenditure. Although, India has taken a step towards Gender Budgeting since 2005–06 and has grown in the process, there are a number of gender gaps in economic parameters and status of women in the workplace. This article critically analyses the effectiveness of gender budgeting in fostering women's economic inclusion by examining constitutional principles, labour laws, the judicial developments and policy initiatives. It states that although gender budgeting has led to better fiscal commitments to gender equality, it is not implemented well, has weak monitoring, and lacks institutional accountability, and thus requires a more results-oriented orientation to gender-responsive governance.