Budget 2026 did not speak about girls through emotional slogans. It addressed the real reasons girls drop out of education, remain financially dependent, or never enter the workforce. In her speech and budget documents, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focused on access, safety, economic participation, and long-term continuity rather than one-time benefits.
1. Proposal to Build Girls’ Hostels in Every District
One of the most concrete announcements in Budget 2026 was the proposal to ensure at least one functional girls’ hostel in every district, supported through central schemes.
Research consistently shows that lack of safe accommodation is a key reason girls discontinue education after Class 12, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. Colleges may exist, but parents hesitate to send daughters far from home due to safety concerns.
By placing hostels at the district level rather than only in major cities, the government aims to remove the distance and safety barrier that disproportionately affects girls. This directly impacts college enrolment, skill training participation, and long-term independence.
2. Expansion of the Gender Budget Under Nirmala Sitharaman
Budget 2026 increased the Gender Budget share to its highest level so far, crossing 9 percent of the total Union Budget.
This is not a separate scheme but a budgeting framework that requires ministries to earmark funds specifically for outcomes related to women and girls. It affects spending across education, health, nutrition, sanitation, housing, and safety.
For girls, this matters because it ensures continuity. Instead of isolated schemes that end with a change in policy, gender-focused funding becomes embedded across departments, improving chances of sustained support through schooling, adolescence, and early adulthood.
3. Introduction of SHE-Marts to Strengthen Women-Led Income
Nirmala Sitharaman announced SHE-Marts, a proposed network of organised marketplaces to support products made by women-led self-help groups and small enterprises.
While positioned as a women entrepreneurship initiative, its impact on girls is indirect but powerful. Studies show that when women in households earn independently, girls are more likely to stay in school longer, delay early marriage, and receive equal educational investment.
By formalising market access instead of limiting women to informal selling, this proposal strengthens household income stability, which directly influences decisions made for daughters.
4. Focus on Care Economy and Allied Health Training
Budget 2026 placed strong emphasis on expanding the
care economy, including training programmes for caregivers in healthcare, elderly care, and allied health services.
Care work has traditionally been informal, underpaid, and unrecognised despite being dominated by women. By proposing structured training and certification, the government aims to turn care into a formal employment pathway.
For girls and young women, this creates realistic, dignified career options that do not require migration to large cities or expensive degrees, while still offering income security and professional recognition.
5. Education Infrastructure Expansion Beyond Traditional Degrees
The budget increased allocation for education infrastructure, including new academic clusters, skill hubs, and specialised training in emerging sectors such as healthcare services, digital skills, and creative industries.
This matters for girls because access to nearby, employable education reduces dropout rates after school. When education leads clearly to jobs, families are more willing to invest in daughters’ studies.
By shifting focus from degrees alone to skills linked with employment, Budget 2026 addresses one of the biggest gaps girls face after finishing school.
