From 2000 to 2024 India experienced a notable expansion in public spending on social sectors (education, health, nutrition, social protection and sanitation), driven by economic growth, fiscal space changes, major flagship programmes, and global commitments (MDGs → SDGs). Spending increased in absolute terms and as a share of public budgets, but shortfalls remain relative to international peers in per-capita and GDP terms. Effectiveness and equity of spending are uneven across states and sectors, prompting renewed policy debates on prioritization, fiscal federalism, and targeting. This article reviews the trends, sectoral patterns, outcomes, and policy implications for India’s social expenditure across 2000–2024.