RAS question
The gender budget statement was introduced in Union Budget:
Correct answer: (C) 2005-06.
The Gender Budget Statement was introduced as part of the Union Budget in 2005-06.
Explanation
The Gender Budget Statement entered the Union Budget in 2005-06. PIB states that the Government of India adopted gender budgeting as a tool in 2004-05 to mainstream gender across sectors and all levels of governance, and that the Gender Budget Statement was introduced in the Union Budget the next year. In exam terms, that makes 2005-06 the anchor year: the statement is an analytical tool for tracking allocations and expenditure on women-specific and pro-women schemes. The later structure has Part A for schemes with 100% allocation for women, Part B for schemes with at least 30% allocation for women, and Part C for schemes below 30% allocation for women and girls, added in Union Budget 2024-25.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 2008-09 is too late because PIB records that the Gender Budget Statement had already been introduced in the Union Budget in 2005-06.
- (B) 2010-11 is much later than the stated introduction year, as the Gender Budget Statement was already part of the Union Budget from 2005-06.
- (D) 2001-02 is too early; gender budgeting was adopted as a tool in 2004-05 and the Gender Budget Statement followed in Union Budget 2005-06.
Concept
This tests gender budgeting under Indian public finance, especially the use of budget statements to track women-focused allocations. It recurs in RAS because budget instruments, inclusive growth, and social-sector expenditure are standard economy themes.