New Delhi, April 28 -- A decade has passed since India began rebuilding inclusive and progressive infrastructure for women, with the gender budget hitting Rs.5 trillion in 2026-27. This represents around 9% of the Centre's total expenditure.

While the push for women's inclusion through higher expenditure is visible, and millions of women are part of several schemes encompassing self-help groups, small businesses, and employment, among others, several gaps remain that raise questions about whether these benefits are just on paper.

Data shows that over 50 million women beneficiaries are under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), and over 100 million under self-help groups, but very few are registered businesses-the share of formally re...