How the Budget 2026 is Woman Centric: Lakhpati Didi To SHE-Marts for Women Entrepreneurs

The Budget 2026: On 1 February, 2026, Finance Minister of India presented the Budget for the FY2026-2027 which marks a pivot in India’s economic strategy. The budget changed the narrative of ‘women's welfare’ to ''Women-Led Development’’ by integrating the massive success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme and introduction of the new SHE-Marts initiative making women owners of retail enterprises. This budget highlights the "Three S" Pillars as Safety, STEM Education, and Scale to ensure that India’s Nari Shakti becomes the primary engine of the nation's $5 trillion goal.

What Are the Schemes For Women in Budget in India

Budget 2026 is Gender Budget allocation has seen an 11% hike, now standing at approximately ₹5.01 lakh crore which represents nearly 9.4% of the total Union Budget, ensuring that every government department from Infrastructure to IT has a dedicated fund for women’s empowerment.

1. SHE-Marts: In the Budget 2026 FM launched the Self-Help Entrepreneur(SHE)Marts after the success of the Lakhpati Didi Programme. It is a community based, retail outlet within the cluster level federations through enhanced and innovative financing instruments and provides women entrepreneurs with better market access, branded marketplaces and sustainable income opportunities. This will allow women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to move beyond local village fairs and provide.

Rural Women Driving Enterprise Revolution!

Union Budget Live | Nari Shakti Leading the Enterprise Revolution.

SHE Marts will help rural women move from credit-linked livelihoods to owning sustainable enterprises. Community-owned Self Help Entrepreneur Marts will provide assured… pic.twitter.com/D76kWts1M4

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) February 1, 2026

1. Lakhpati Didi 2.0: Lakhpati Didi is one of the successful schemes of the government of India. The government has doubled down on its commitment to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, women earning over ₹1 lakh annually by 2027. The 2026 Budget introduces "Lakhpati Didi 2.0," which provides advanced technical training and digital financial literacy to help these women transition from micro-livelihoods to formal business ownership. 

2. The budget 2026 introduces "innovative financing instruments" like credit guarantees and bridge funding to help SHE-Marts compete with established commercial brands.

3. A Girls’ Hostel in Every District: To address the challenges of drop-out issues in higher education, ‘One Girls Hostel’ will be established in every district for girl students. This initiative is specifically designed to support students traveling from rural areas to urban centers for coaching and college. It is specifically aimed at girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) who require safe-housing and ‘University Townships’ located near industrial corridors to bridge the gap between education and employment.

4. The budget has been allocated for recognizing the massive potential of the "Care Economy," the government will train 1.5 lakh women as certified caregivers. This professionalizes a sector that has long been unorganized, providing women with social security and higher wages in geriatric and childcare services.

5. Integration into women the Blue Economy to lead India’s fisheries sector. The budget links women-led groups to the fisheries value chain in 500 reservoirs Amrit Sarovars. This includes funding for solar-powered cold storage and direct market linkages for fish-processing units.

6. New Term Loans for Enterprise Scale, The budget introduces term loans of up to ₹2 crore for first-time women entrepreneurs.These loans come with a specialized "She-Mart" certification, making it easier for banks to offer lower interest rates to women-led startups.

India's Budget 2026 shifts focus to 'Women-Led Development,' moving beyond welfare. It introduces SHE-Marts for women entrepreneurs and expands Lakhpati Didi 2.0, aiming for 3 crore 'Didis' by 2027. With an 11% hike in gender budget, the plan emphasizes Safety, STEM, and Scale, supporting women in education, care economy, and fisheries, driving the nation's $5 trillion goal.

Also Read: Budget 2026: What's Cheaper & What's Costlier? Check Full List Here