By Raju Kumar
The Union Budget is often seen as a document of fiscal priorities, but provisions related to children also reveal how the state defines long-term development. Allocations for children are not confined to the social sector alone; they shape human capital, future productivity, and the trajectory of inequality. In this context, the Union Budget 2026–27 records an increase in allocations for children, suggesting that their importance in policymaking has not been entirely overlooked. Yet the real question is not whether allocations have increased, but whether this increase reflects a genuine shift toward placing children at the centre of development priorities, and whether such investment aligns with their actual needs and India’s demographic realities.
According to official budget documents, total allocations related to children in 2026–27 have crossed ₹1.32 lakh crore, compared to about ₹1.16 lakh crore in the previous year—an increase of roughly ₹16,000 crore. The share of the child budget in the total Union Budget has risen to 2.47 per cent, while as a proportion of GDP it stands at 0.34 per cent. These figures clearly indicate an increase in spending. At the same time, they also underline that in a country like India—where a large share of the population consists of children and adolescents—this level of prioritisation remains limited.
Children’s needs go far beyond school enrolment or food alone. Nutrition, health, safe drinking water, a secure environment, protection, and learning opportunities together form the foundations of child development. The budget reflects increases in some key health and nutrition schemes. Allocations for anganwadi and nutrition services have risen, additional resources have been provided for school meal programmes, and the Jal Jeevan Mission has once again been included within the child budget, recognising the link between safe drinking water and children’s health. The education sector also shows some positive signals. The Samagra Shiksha programme has received higher allocations, significant investment has been made in Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal children, and increased funding for Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalayas, along with a substantial allocation for Atal Tinkering Labs, indicates an attempt to move beyond enrolment toward learning quality, innovation, and skill development.
However, this picture also has a more troubling side. Equity-based interventions—especially scholarship schemes—have not seen the required expansion. There has been no increase in pre- and post-matric scholarships for Scheduled Caste students, while scholarships for other disadvantaged groups have seen only marginal growth. This directly affects children for whom scholarships are the primary means of continuing education. Without ensuring equitable access to education, claims of inclusive development remain incomplete. Budgetary growth has also been limited in schemes related to child protection. Challenges such as child labour, trafficking, violence, abuse, and the care of children in difficult circumstances are not confined to any single state or region. Strengthening child protection systems is therefore not merely an administrative responsibility, but a moral obligation. This raises a critical question: are current allocations sufficient to build effective protection mechanisms at the ground level?
In this context, the response of Child Rights and You (CRY) carries particular significance. The organisation has noted that while the increase in the child budget reflects a positive intent, it remains inadequate when viewed against India’s demographic realities and the growing developmental needs of children. According to CRY, incremental increases in health, nutrition, and education are welcome, but achieving inclusive and sustainable development requires children to be given far clearer and stronger priority. Year-on-year marginal increases alone cannot address entrenched inequalities. The expansion of gender-responsive budgeting also features in this debate, as girls’ education, adolescent nutrition, and safety are directly linked to child development. While the overall gender budget has expanded, the real test lies in whether its benefits reach the most vulnerable sections of society in a meaningful way.
Overall, the child budget in 2026–27 reflects limited and incremental improvement rather than a decisive shift. If India is to move toward truly sustainable and inclusive development, future budgets will need to place children far more firmly at the centre of financial planning—supported by adequate resources, a commitment to equity, and a long-term developmental vision. (IPA Service)
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