Budget Expectations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is likely to allocate Rs 9,000 crore for the LPG subsidy to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the upcoming Budget, reported ET Now, citing sources.

The Modi government has been constantly focusing on providing subsidies under the Ujjwala Yojana scheme, under which the women are the prime beneficiaries.

The Rs 9,000-crore subsidy will be transferred to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs ) for providing subsidised LPG. In the interim budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had projected the total fuel subsidy outlay at Rs 11,925 crore, nearly matching the revised estimate for 2023-24 and exceeding the previous fiscal year's budgeted estimate.

The increase was primarily due to the extension of a cooking gas subsidy of Rs 300 per cylinder to approximately 96 million low-income households, ahead of assembly elections in five states.

On March 7, a day before International Women’s Day, the Union Cabinet approved a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder (and proportionately for 5 kg cylinders) for up to 12 refills per year for PMUY beneficiaries during FY 2024-25. "The total expenditure will be Rs 12,000 crore for financial year 2024-25. The subsidy is credited directly to bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries," the official document released by Cabinet stated.

Focus on Nari Shakti Prime Minister Modi had last year flagged focus areas of the government for four major groups: farmers, women, youth, and the poor.

In the interim budget for 2024-25, Sitharaman announced that the government would increase the target of women beneficiaries under the Lakhpati Didi Scheme from two crore to three crore.

She also highlighted the government's previous schemes for women and praised the increasing participation of Indian women in the workforce and STEM courses.

"Female enrolment in higher education is up by 28% in 10 years, in STEM courses, girls and women make up 43% of enrolment, one of the highest in the world.

All these steps are reflected in the increasing participation of women in the workforce.

Making triple talaq illegal, reservation of 1/3 seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, over 70 % houses under PM Awas Yojana to women have increased their dignity," the Finance Minister said.

Sitharaman also announced government plans to encourage cervical cancer vaccinations for girls aged nine to 14. "Our government will encourage vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer," she said.

Despite previous controversies in 2010, when trials of HPV vaccines faced setbacks due to reported deaths, the government is pushing forward with this health initiative.

Additionally, healthcare cover under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be extended to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Addressing gender parity and uplifting women's lives remain crucial in the budget's focus.

"We need to focus on - Garib, Mahilayen, Yuva, and Annadata; their needs and aspirations are our highest priorities," Sitharaman stated in her interim Budget speech.