As India plans its Budget 2026-27, experts highlight the urgent need to address women’s time poverty, a major block on the country’s growth. Women contribute just 18% to India’s GDP. This is not because they work less but because much of their work is unpaid and uncounted. About 40% of women participate in the labor force, mostly in unpaid farming tasks. Meanwhile, 60% of women not working say domestic duties hold them back (Periodic Labour Force Survey). Experts suggest five key Budget moves. First, measure and reduce women’s unpaid care work. The Time Use Survey shows women spend 366 minutes daily on unpaid care, slightly more than 2019, while paid work rose from 68 to 76 minutes. Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana must evolve to support women’s time-saving needs by including water, electricity, toilets, and clean cooking. Second, link budget funds to actual time saved for women. Current gender budgets often relabel existing schemes without redesigning them to fight women’s specific barriers. For example, agriculture employs many women but got only 4.2% of the gender budget, mostly benefiting male landowners. Third, boost demand for women’s labor. The new Employment-Linked Incentive scheme aims to create 3.5 crore jobs and must set a goal for 50% to go to women with wage subsidies and social benefits. Also, MGNREGA (renamed VB-GRAM G) should get more funds, as women make up over half its beneficiaries, with features like childcare and work close to home. Fourth, help women entrepreneurs grow. Women own 60% of small unincorporated manufacturing but receive just 0.9% of MSME funds. Most Mudra loans to women are small and insufficient. Greater access to bigger funds, skills, technology, and safety infrastructure are needed to scale women-led businesses. Fifth, prepare women for the AI-driven future. The India AI Mission allocated ₹660 crore to gender programs, but more help is needed in digital skills, AI training, and mentorship. Upskilling should reduce drudgery, not add to it. Tanu M. Goyal of ICRIER emphasizes, "The ‘Nari Shakti’ narrative must focus on freeing and valuing women’s time and turning it into real opportunity and income." The Budget’s true success will show if women gain agency through time saved and better jobs.