FPC’s annual pre-budget consultation was held in New Delhi from 21 to 23 November 2025 at the United Nations House. Sixth in the series of consultations, this year’s theme was “Reimagining Resource Justice for Rights and Gender Equality in the Current Crossroads.”
The consultation focussed on contemporary issues on four thematic areas:
social protection and the impact of digitisation; care work and livelihoods; structural and gender-based violence; and institutionalisation of gender responsive budgeting.
The first panel addressed issues on digital literacy and access to digital services especially to the most vulnerable, and raised concerns over data privacy and commodification of citizen data. The second panel addressed the need to recognise care work and investment in care-related infrastructure. The third panel highlighted concerns about rising forms of interconnected gender-based violence especially its effects on Dalit and Adivasi women, presenting evidence through data. The fourth panel deliberated on the pros and cons of enacting a gender responsive budgeting act, enhancing accountability measures and having effective monitoring mechanisms. The panels were led by experts where they drew upon their personal and organisational experiences and expertise to strengthen financing of` the delineated thematic areas.
Day two involved working in groups on the four thematic areas to sharpen the observations from the preceding day to formulate policy recommendations, draw an action plan and a timeline. This was to ensure that these recommendations reach relevant people to determine the upcoming budget priorities.
The consultation was attended widely by individuals and organisations engaging with equality and gender justice – a significant and concrete step towards making India’s policy process transparent, accountable and relevant. Urvija Priyardashini from CBPS participated in the sessions.
About Feminist Policy Collective (FPC):
FPC is an independent network of academic researchers, policy experts, and campaigners committed to strengthening gender transformative policies, plans and budgets in India. The voluntary platform was set up in January 2019 with a mixed group of independent researchers, academicians, policy advocates and feminist organisations. Every year, the collective works towards the shared vision of contributing to policies and practice on Transformative Financing for gender justice that advances the rights of women in all their diversity. Key activities of FPC include research and publications, webinars, participation in conference panels, and their flagship programme – the annual pre-budget consultations. All of these activities are undertaken to identify policy priorities from an intersectional feminist lens to guide Union and State Departments and Ministries in preparing their respective budgets.
