Abstract

The report “Public Expenditure on Children in India: Trends and Patterns” examines the public spending on children by the union and sixteen state governments in India over seven years (2012-2019). It highlights the importance of investments in children’s health, nutrition, education, and protection, emphasising the direct impact of such expenditures on child development and overall societal well-being. The report introduces a novel Child Development Index (CDIa) and analyzes the data across multiple parameters, including age groups, capital-revenue, and direct transfers. It finds that higher public expenditure correlates with improved child development indices and underscores the need for strategic, sustained investments in underfunded sectors and age groups, particularly for early childhood and adolescent development. The report advocates for increased and prioritised public expenditure to support child rights and development, suggesting policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public finance for children.

Jha, J., Madhusudhan Rao, B.V., Siddarth, S., Sowmya, J., Lekshmi, P. T., Susmitha, M. V., Deepa, K. S., and Abraham, S. M. (2019). Public Expenditure on Children in India: Trends and Patterns. Centre for Budget and Policy Studies and United Nations Children Fund, India.