The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the apex body for formulating and administering laws and policies related to welfare of women and children.  It primarily focuses on: (i) addressing gaps in state action for women and children, and (ii) promoting inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure gender-equitable and child-centred policies.[i]  The Ministry implements schemes to enhance nutrition, and strengthen safety and security among women and children.

This note examines proposed budget of the Ministry of Women and Child Development for 2025-26, trends in expenditure, and discusses key issues in the sector.

Overview of Finances[ii]

In 2025-26, the Ministry has been allocated Rs 26,890 crore, an increase of 16% over the revised estimates of 2024-25 (see Table 1). Between 2015-16 to 2025-26, the Ministry’s expenditure has grown at an annual average rate of 4%. The Ministry’s expenditure as a proportion of the total expenditure by the central government declined from 0.96% in 2015-16 to 0.5% in 2025-26.

Figure 1: Declining Ministry expenditure as % of total expenditure of the central government

 

Note: Figures for 2024-25 are revised estimates.
Source: Annual Financial Statement for various years; Ministry of Women and Child Development Demand for Grants for various years; PRS.

Allocation to schemes

The Ministry implements three centrally sponsored schemes: (i) Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, (ii) Mission Shakti, and (iii) Mission Vatsalya.  In 2021, various schemes implemented by the Ministry were subsumed within these three schemes.

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an integrated nutrition support programme which aims to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. It subsumed the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – Anganwadi Services Scheme, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls.

Mission Shakti provides for support for women through care, safety, protection, rehabilitation and empowerment. It has two sub-schemes: (i) Sambal (safety and security), and (ii) Samarthya (empowerment). It subsumed schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and the PM Matru Vandana Yojana. Mission Vatsalya seeks to create a supportive ecosystem for overall development of children in need of care and protection, and in conflict with law. It subsumed the Child Protection Services scheme.

In 2025-26, the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme has been allocated 82% of Ministry’s estimated expenditure (Rs 21,960 crore).  Mission Shakti has been allocated 12% of the total estimated expenditure of the Ministry (Rs 3,150 crore) and Mission Vatsalya has been allocated 6% of the budget (Rs 1,500 crore).

Table 1: Allocation towards the Ministry of Women and Child Development (in Rs crore)

	2023-24 Actuals	2024-25 RE	2025-26 BE	% change 24-25 RE to 25-26 BE
Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0	21,810	20,071	21,960	9%
Mission Shakti	1,522	1,451	3,150	117%
Samarthya	1,165	1,029	2,521	145%
Sambal	357	422	629	49%
Mission Vatsalya	1,391	1,391	1,500	8%
Schemes funded from Nirbhaya Fund	500	30	30	0%
Others*	271	240	250	4%
Total	24,696	23,183	26,890	16%

Note: BE- Budget Estimates; RE- Revised Estimates.
Others* include transfers to autonomous bodies such as National Commission for Women, Central Adoption Resource Agency, and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Sources: Demand No. 101, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Union Budget 2025-26; PRS.

Key announcement in the Budget Speech 2025-26 The cost norms for nutritional support under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 will be enhanced appropriately.

Allocation and utilisation of funds 

In the last nine years, actual expenditure by the Ministry has been lower than the budget allocation.  The Standing Committee (2022) had observed that financial allocation to the Ministry is decided after financial and physical targets are set in accordance with the action plans.[iii]   It noted that underutilisation of budget indicates either lack of financial prudence at the planning and budgeting stage or gaps in implementation.  The Ministry has stated that majority of the allocation is towards Centrally Sponsored Schemes which are implemented by states, and the allocation is decided based on the inputs received from states.[iv]  States need to put in their share of funding, and show utilisation to get the funds from the Centre.  Inability to meet these conditions leads to un-spent balances and lower utilisation.