Union Budget 2026 has raised allocations for child welfare in India by 14%, from ₹1,16,133 crore to ₹1,32,297 crore. Organizations like Just Rights for Children have welcomed the budget, highlighting increased support for education, skill development, and initiatives against child marriage.
Budget 2026 Boosts Child Welfare Allocation by 14%
New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026 has been welcomed by organizations working for children's rights and protection. Just Rights for Children, the country's largest child rights network, called it "promising." The organization praised the long-awaited and decisive increase in child welfare allocations in the budget.
The total budget for child welfare in the financial year 2026–27 has been set at ₹1,32,297 crore, a 14 percent increase compared to ₹1,16,133 crore in the previous financial year 2025–26. This is considered an important step towards investing in children's interests and education.
Budget 2026: Overseas education becomes easier with lower TCS; Expert weigh in
Ravi Kant, National Convenor of Just Rights for Children, said, "This budget sends a clear message of the government's commitment to children's rights and education. For the first time in the last decade, the share of the budget for children has increased in the total federal budget. This step is not only important but also necessary."
The budget has increased allocations for key schemes such as Skill Development, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and Jal Jeevan Mission. This investment reflects the progress towards child welfare and a child marriage-free India, towards a developed India.
Ravi Kant said, "Child marriage is both a cause and a consequence of deep social and economic inequalities. This budget has taken steps towards addressing this challenging problem by investing in girls' education, skills, and independence. Without empowering girls, achieving the goal of ending child marriage by 2030 will be difficult."
Budget 2026 has made concrete commitments to the welfare, education, and empowerment of children. With a 14 percent increase, this budget is being considered a historic step in the field of child rights and social justice. Experts and NGOs believe that this budget will prove helpful in securing the future of children and eliminating social evils like child marriage.
