For years, women appeared in budgets as beneficiaries.
This year, one woman helped build the budget.

Anuradha Thakur, a 1994 batch IAS officer, has spent decades shaping economic policy and public systems. In 2025, she stepped into a role at the centre of national decision-making, contributing to how resources are allocated and priorities are set.

With nearly ₹5 lakh crore directed towards gender-responsive priorities, this marks a quiet but important shift. This is not just about a budget, it is about dignity, about recognising labour, and about women shaping the systems that define their lives.