The correct answer is 8.86%. Explanation & Key Takeaways: • In the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2025, the allocation for gender-specific schemes reached a historic high of approximately 8.86% of the total expenditure. • The total outlay for the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) for the fiscal year 2025-26 is estimated at ₹4.43 lakh crore, out of a total projected budget expenditure of ₹50.01 lakh crore. • This allocation signifies a substantial increase from the previous fiscal year (2024-25), where the gender budget stood at approximately ₹3.10 lakh crore (around 6.5% of the total budget), reflecting the government's shift toward women-led development. • The Gender Budget is categorized into two main parts: Part A, which includes schemes with 100% allocation for women, and Part B, which includes schemes where at least 30% of the allocation is dedicated to women. • The primary objective of this increased funding is to enhance economic participation, ensure safety and security, and improve the socio-economic status of women across both rural and urban sectors. Related Concepts: • Gender Budgeting in India: • India formally adopted Gender Budgeting in the year 2005-06 to ensure that the benefits of development reach women as much as men. • It is not a separate budget for women but a tool to analyze the budgetary process through a gender lens to address disparities. • Mission Shakti: • This is an integrated women empowerment programme launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. • It consists of two sub-schemes: 'Sambal' (for safety and security, including One Stop Centres and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) and 'Samarthya' (for empowerment, including Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh). • Lakhpati Didi Scheme: • The Union Budget 2025-26 continued its focus on the Lakhpati Didi initiative, aiming to empower 3 crore women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to earn an annual income of at least ₹1 lakh. • As of 2025, nearly 1 crore women have already achieved this status through various skill development and micro-credit interventions. • PM Awas Yojana (Grameen): • Under this scheme, a significant portion of the Gender Budget is utilized as the government mandates that houses should be owned solely or jointly by women, thereby enhancing their asset-ownership and social standing. Important Notes: • Economic Impact: The 8.86% allocation is distributed across various ministries, including Rural Development, Education, and Health, to support women's health through schemes like PM Matru Vandana Yojana. • Mudra Yojana: Under the PM Mudra Yojana, more than 70% of loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs, fostering financial independence and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. • STEM Education: The budget highlights an increase in the enrollment of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses, which currently stands at 43% in India, one of the highest in the world. • Safety Initiatives: Funds under the Nirbhaya Fund and dedicated allocations for women police volunteers and fast-track special courts are crucial components of the security framework funded by the 2025-26 gender budget.