The Central Government of India welfare expenditures are a substantial portion of the official budget, and state and local governments play roles in developing and implementing welfare policies.
Overview
The Directive Principles of State Policy, enshrined in Part IV of the Indian Constitution reflects that India is a welfare state. Seats are reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in government jobs, educational institutions, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. The government has passed laws for the abolition of untouchability, Begar and Zamindari. The government has opened Fair Price Shops, where essential commodities are sold at reasonable prices to the poorer sections of the society.
In 2000, the union government's expenditure on social services (includes education, health, family welfare, women and child development, and social justice and empowerment), rural development, and basic minimum services was approximately US$7.7 billion (Rs361.7 billion), which was 11.1 percent of total government expenditures and 1.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The union and state governments maintain reserved seats in political and education institutions for lower castes, indigenous persons, and others based on their percentage of the population. Development programs have been produced — often at state or local levels — for social development and the empowerment of women and lower castes.