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Law-making and the Budget

मराठीत स्पष्टीकरण

Parliament · Part 3 / 4 · Fact-checked on · how we check

Written with AI from the sources listed at the bottom of this page, then fact-checked by a separate AI.

How an ordinary bill becomes law, the President's assent and the kinds of veto, Money Bills and financial bills, how the Budget is passed, and the three funds of the Union.

Each idea is explained first in Marathi (मराठी), ending with the English and Hindi exam terms, followed by the same point in exam English. UPSC Prelims is in English or Hindi, so understand it in Marathi and revise it in English.

आतापर्यंत संसदेत कोण बसते आणि सभागृहे कशी चालतात ते पाहिले. आता संसदेची दोन मुख्य कामे: कायदे करणे आणि देशाच्या पैशावर नियंत्रण. कायद्याच्या अधिकाराशिवाय कोणताही कर लावता येत नाही (अनुच्छेद 265), आणि कायद्यानुसारच एकत्रित निधीतून पैसा काढता येतो (266(3)) — म्हणजे घराच्या तिजोरीची किल्ली संसदेकडे. विधेयक म्हणजे कायद्याचा प्रस्ताव. चार प्रकार: साधे विधेयक (कोणत्याही सभागृहात मांडता येते, 107), धन विधेयक (109, 110), वित्तीय विधेयक (117) आणि घटनादुरुस्ती विधेयक (368). मंत्र्याने मांडले तर सरकारी विधेयक; इतर सदस्याने मांडले तर खासगी सदस्य विधेयक. (→ English: Parliament · हिन्दी: संसद)

In exam EnglishParts 1 and 2 described who sits in Parliament and how the Houses run. This part covers Parliament's two central powers: making laws and controlling public money. Article 265 says no tax may be levied or collected except by authority of law, and Article 266(3) says no money may leave the Consolidated Fund of India except in accordance with law, so Parliament guards both taxing and spending. The Constitution treats four kinds of bills differently: ordinary bills (Article 107), Money Bills (Articles 109 and 110), financial bills (Article 117) and Constitution Amendment Bills (Article 368). A bill moved by a minister is a government bill; one moved by any other member is a private member's bill.

साधे विधेयक प्रत्येक सभागृहात तीन वाचनांतून जाते. पहिले वाचन: मांडण्याची परवानगी मागणे, मग राजपत्रात प्रसिद्धी — सहसा चर्चा नाही. दुसरे वाचन सर्वात महत्त्वाचे: आधी विधेयकाच्या तत्त्वांवर चर्चा; लगेच विचार करायचा, त्या सभागृहाच्या प्रवर समितीकडे किंवा दोन्ही सभागृहांच्या संयुक्त समितीकडे पाठवायचे, की लोकमतासाठी प्रसारित करायचे हे ठरते; मग कलमवार विचार आणि दुरुस्त्यांवर मतदान. तिसरे वाचन: संपूर्ण विधेयक मंजूर करायचे की नाकारायचे एवढेच, फक्त शाब्दिक दुरुस्त्या. मग दुसरे सभागृह — मंजूर करू शकते, दुरुस्तीसह मंजूर करू शकते, नाकारू शकते किंवा काहीच करू शकत नाही. दोन्ही सभागृहे सहमत झाली तरच विधेयक मंजूर (107(2)). सहमती नसेल तर राष्ट्रपती संयुक्त बैठक बोलावू शकतात (108). घराचा नकाशा आधी एकूण पाहायचा, मग खोलीनिहाय बदल, शेवटी होकार — तसेच. सत्रसमाप्तीने प्रलंबित विधेयक संपत नाही; लोकसभा विसर्जनाने संपू शकते. (→ English: joint sitting · हिन्दी: संयुक्त बैठक)

In exam EnglishAn ordinary bill passes through three readings in each House. At the first reading the member seeks leave to introduce it, and it is then published in the Gazette of India, usually without debate. The second reading matters most: the House first discusses the bill's principles and decides whether to consider it at once, send it to a select committee of that House or a joint committee of both Houses, or circulate it for public opinion; it then takes the bill clause by clause and votes on amendments. At the third reading the House only passes or rejects the bill as a whole, allowing only formal or verbal amendments. The other House may then pass it, amend it, reject it, or not take it up. Under Article 107(2) a bill is passed only when both Houses agree to it. If they cannot agree, the President may summon a joint sitting under Article 108. Prorogation does not kill a pending bill, but dissolution of the Lok Sabha can (Article 107(3) to (5)).

दोन्ही सभागृहांनी मंजूर केलेले विधेयक राष्ट्रपतींकडे जाते (अनुच्छेद 111). राष्ट्रपतींनी अनुमती दिली तर कायदा; अनुमती रोखली तर विधेयक संपते; धन विधेयक सोडून इतर विधेयक 'पुन्हा विचार करा' अशा संदेशासह परत पाठवता येते. सभागृहांनी ते पुन्हा मंजूर केले (दुरुस्तीसह किंवा शिवाय) तर अनुमती रोखता येत नाही. याला 'व्हेटो' म्हणतात, पण संविधानात हा शब्द नाही. अनुमती रोखणे — पूर्ण व्हेटो. परत पाठवणे — निलंबनात्मक व्हेटो; साध्या बहुमताने पार करता येतो, अमेरिकेसारखे दोन-तृतीयांश लागत नाहीत. वेळमर्यादा नसल्याने विधेयक नुसते पडून ठेवणे — पॉकेट व्हेटो; 1986 च्या पोस्ट ऑफिस दुरुस्ती विधेयकावर झैलसिंग यांनी असे केले. पत्र खिशात ठेवून विसरल्यासारखे! धन विधेयक परत पाठवता येत नाही. घटनादुरुस्ती विधेयकाला अनुमती देणे बंधनकारक — 24 वी दुरुस्ती (1971). (→ English: President · हिन्दी: राष्ट्रपति)

In exam EnglishA bill passed by both Houses goes to the President under Article 111. The President may give assent, and the bill becomes an Act; withhold assent, and the bill ends; or, except for a Money Bill, return it with a message asking the Houses to reconsider it. If the Houses pass it again, with or without amendments, assent cannot be withheld. These choices are commonly called vetoes, though the Constitution does not use the word. Withholding assent is an absolute veto. Returning a bill is a suspensive veto, overridden by a simple majority, unlike the two-thirds majority needed in the United States Congress. Because Article 111 sets no time limit, the President can also simply keep a bill pending, which is called a pocket veto; President Zail Singh did this with the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986. A Money Bill cannot be returned. A Constitution Amendment Bill must receive assent, a rule added to Article 368 by the 24th Amendment (1971).

धन विधेयक म्हणजे काय ते 110(1) सांगते: विधेयकात फक्त पैशाचे विषय असावेत — कर लावणे, रद्द करणे, बदलणे; सरकारने कर्ज घेणे, हमी देणे; एकत्रित निधी व आकस्मिकता निधीची सुरक्षा, त्यात पैसा टाकणे-काढणे; एकत्रित निधीतून पैसा विनियोजित करणे; एखादा खर्च त्या निधीवर 'भारित' घोषित करणे; लोकलेख्यातील पैसा, हिशेबांचे लेखापरीक्षण; आणि यांना जोडलेले छोटे विषय. 'फक्त' हा शब्दच गुरुकिल्ली — एक जरी वेगळा विषय मिसळला तरी ते धन विधेयक नाही. दंड, परवाना शुल्क, स्थानिक संस्थांचे कर असल्याने ते धन विधेयक ठरत नाही (110(2)). धन विधेयक आहे की नाही असा प्रश्न आल्यास लोकसभा अध्यक्षांचा निर्णय अंतिम (110(3)); राज्यसभा व राष्ट्रपतींकडे पाठवताना अध्यक्ष प्रमाणपत्र लिहितात (110(4)). (→ English: Money Bill · हिन्दी: धन विधेयक)

In exam EnglishA Money Bill is defined in Article 110(1): a bill that contains only provisions on all or any of these matters: imposing, abolishing, remitting, altering or regulating any tax; government borrowing or guarantees; the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India and payments into or out of them; appropriating money from the Consolidated Fund; declaring expenditure to be charged on that Fund or increasing it; receiving money into the Consolidated Fund or the Public Account, or the audit of Union or State accounts; and incidental matters. The word 'only' is the key. Under Article 110(2), a bill is not a Money Bill merely because it provides for fines or penalties, fees for licences or services, or local taxes. If a question arises whether a bill is a Money Bill, the decision of the Speaker is final (Article 110(3)), and the Speaker endorses a certificate on it when it goes to the Rajya Sabha and the President (Article 110(4)).

धन विधेयक कर आणि खर्च ठरवते म्हणून लोकांनी थेट निवडलेल्या लोकसभेचा शब्द अंतिम. ते फक्त लोकसभेत, आणि फक्त राष्ट्रपतींच्या शिफारशीने मांडता येते (109(1), 117(1)). लोकसभेने मंजूर केल्यावर राज्यसभेने 14 दिवसांत ते परत पाठवायचे; ती फक्त शिफारशी करू शकते, त्या लोकसभा स्वीकारू किंवा नाकारू शकते. 14 दिवसांत परत न आल्यास लोकसभेने मंजूर केलेल्या स्वरूपातच दोन्ही सभागृहांनी मंजूर केले असे मानले जाते (109(5)). म्हणजे राज्यसभा जास्तीत जास्त 14 दिवस अडवू शकते, दुरुस्ती किंवा नकार देऊ शकत नाही; संयुक्त बैठकीची गरजच नाही. अध्यक्षांचे प्रमाणपत्र राज्यसभेला बाजूला ठेवते म्हणून न्यायालयात वाद झाला: पुट्टस्वामी प्रकरणात (2018) बहुमताने धन विधेयक म्हणून मंजूर झालेला आधार कायदा 2016 वैध ठरवला, एका न्यायाधीशांनी असहमती दर्शवली. रोजर मॅथ्यू प्रकरणात (2019) पाच न्यायाधीशांच्या पीठाने त्या युक्तिवादावर शंका घेऊन प्रश्न मोठ्या पीठाकडे पाठवला. (→ English: Money Bill · हिन्दी: धन विधेयक)

In exam EnglishBecause a Money Bill decides taxes and spending, the elected House has the last word. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and only on the President's recommendation (Articles 109(1) and 117(1)). The Rajya Sabha must return it within 14 days with any recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject; if it is not returned in time, it is deemed passed by both Houses in the form the Lok Sabha passed it (Article 109(5)). So the Rajya Sabha can delay a Money Bill by 14 days at most, cannot amend or reject it, and no joint sitting is ever needed. This route has been challenged in court. In K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018) the Supreme Court majority upheld the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which had been passed as a Money Bill, with one judge dissenting on this point; in Rojer Mathew v. South Indian Bank (2019) a five-judge bench doubted this reasoning and referred the scope of Article 110 to a larger bench.

पैशाशी संबंधित पण धन विधेयक नसलेल्या विधेयकाला वित्तीय विधेयक म्हणतात (117). दोन प्रकार. पहिला (117(1)): धन विधेयकातील विषयांसोबत इतर विषयही असतात — म्हणजे 'फक्त' पैसा नाही. धन विधेयकासारखेच फक्त लोकसभेत, राष्ट्रपतींच्या शिफारशीने मांडावे लागते; त्यानंतर साध्या विधेयकासारखे — राज्यसभा दुरुस्ती करू शकते, नाकारू शकते, कोंडी झाल्यास संयुक्त बैठक. दुसरा (117(3)): धन विधेयकाचा कोणताही विषय नाही, पण कायदा झाल्यास एकत्रित निधीतून खर्च होईल. कोणत्याही सभागृहात शिफारशीशिवाय मांडता येते, पण राष्ट्रपतींनी 'विचार करा' अशी शिफारस केल्याशिवाय कोणतेही सभागृह ते मंजूर करू शकत नाही. सगळी फळे अन्न असतात, पण सगळे अन्न फळ नसते — तसेच पैशाची सगळी विधेयके धन विधेयके नसतात. अध्यक्षांचे प्रमाणपत्र फक्त धन विधेयकाला. (→ English: financial bill · हिन्दी: वित्त विधेयक)

In exam EnglishArticle 117 deals with bills that involve money but are not Money Bills; such a bill is called a financial bill. Under Article 117(1), a bill containing some Money Bill matters along with other provisions, and so not 'only' about money, can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and only on the President's recommendation, but is otherwise treated as an ordinary bill: the Rajya Sabha may amend or reject it, and a deadlock can go to a joint sitting. Under Article 117(3), a bill with no Money Bill matter that would involve spending from the Consolidated Fund may be introduced in either House without a recommendation, but neither House may pass it unless the President has recommended to that House that it be considered. Not every bill about money is a Money Bill, and only a Money Bill carries the Speaker's certificate.
Four routes for a bill
Ordinary billMoney Bill (Art 110)Financial bill (Art 117(1))Financial bill (Art 117(3))
Where introducedEither HouseLok Sabha onlyLok Sabha onlyEither House
President's recommendationNot neededNeeded to introduceNeeded to introduceNeeded before a House considers it
Rajya Sabha's powerMay amend or rejectRecommendations only, within 14 daysMay amend or rejectMay amend or reject
Joint sittingPossibleNot possiblePossiblePossible
President may return itYes, onceNoYes, onceYes, once

संविधानात 'बजेट' हा शब्दच नाही. अनुच्छेद 112 नुसार प्रत्येक वित्तीय वर्षासाठी सरकारच्या अंदाजित जमा-खर्चाचे वार्षिक वित्तीय विवरणपत्र राष्ट्रपती दोन्ही सभागृहांसमोर ठेवायला लावतात. त्यात एकत्रित निधीवर 'भारित' खर्च आणि इतर खर्च वेगवेगळे; महसुली खात्यावरील खर्चही वेगळा दाखवावा लागतो. भारित खर्च (112(3)): राष्ट्रपतींचे वेतन-भत्ते; राज्यसभेचे सभापती, उपसभापती, लोकसभेचे अध्यक्ष, उपाध्यक्ष यांचे वेतन; सरकारी कर्जाचा भार; सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाच्या न्यायाधीशांचे वेतन, निवृत्तिवेतन आणि उच्च न्यायालयाच्या न्यायाधीशांचे निवृत्तिवेतन; नियंत्रक व महालेखापरीक्षकांचे वेतन; न्यायालयीन निर्णयांच्या रकमा. यावर चर्चा होते पण मतदान नाही (113) — घरभाडे, वीजबिलासारखे, दरवर्षी मत घेऊन ठरवायचे नाही; त्यामुळे ही पदे राजकीय दबावापासून सुरक्षित राहतात. बाकी खर्च अनुदानाच्या मागण्या म्हणून लोकसभेकडे; लोकसभा मान्य करू शकते, नाकारू शकते, कमी करू शकते — वाढवू शकत नाही. राज्यसभेला मागण्यांवर मत नाही. राष्ट्रपतींच्या शिफारशीशिवाय मागणी येत नाही. (→ English: annual financial statement · हिन्दी: वार्षिक वित्तीय विवरण)

In exam EnglishThe Constitution never uses the word 'budget'. Article 112 requires an annual financial statement of the Union's estimated receipts and expenditure to be laid before both Houses every financial year, showing separately the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund and other expenditure, and revenue expenditure apart from other expenditure. Charged expenditure (Article 112(3)) includes the emoluments of the President; the salaries of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha; debt charges; the salaries, allowances and pensions of Supreme Court judges and the pensions of High Court judges; the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor-General; and sums due under court judgments. Under Article 113 it may be discussed but is not voted on, which shields these offices from political pressure. Other expenditure goes to the Lok Sabha as demands for grants, made only on the President's recommendation; the Lok Sabha may assent to, refuse or reduce a demand but not increase it, and the Rajya Sabha does not vote on demands.

2017 पासून केंद्रीय अर्थसंकल्प 1 फेब्रुवारीला मांडला जातो; त्याच वर्षी रेल्वे अर्थसंकल्प त्यात विलीन झाला. टप्पे: आधी दोन्ही सभागृहांत संपूर्ण अर्थसंकल्पावर सर्वसाधारण चर्चा. मग काही आठवडे सभागृह स्थगित — त्या काळात स्थायी समित्या प्रत्येक मंत्रालयाच्या मागण्या तपासतात. मग लोकसभेत मागण्यांवर मतदान; कपात प्रस्ताव: धोरण कपात — मागणी एक रुपयावर आणणे (धोरण पटले नाही म्हणून); काटकसर कपात — ठरावीक रक्कम कमी करणे; प्रतीकात्मक कपात — शंभर रुपये कमी करणे (एखादी तक्रार मांडण्यासाठी). शेवटच्या दिवशी उरलेल्या सगळ्या मागण्या एकत्र मतदानाला — याला गिलोटिन म्हणतात, परीक्षेच्या शेवटच्या मिनिटाला उरलेले सगळे प्रश्न एकदम सोडवल्यासारखे. मग विनियोजन विधेयक (114) — एकत्रित निधीतून पैसा काढण्याची परवानगी; अनुदानाची रक्कम किंवा उद्देश बदलणारी दुरुस्ती चालत नाही. शेवटी वित्त विधेयक कर प्रस्ताव लागू करते; 1931 च्या कायद्यानुसार नवा कर लगेच वसूल करता येतो, पण 75 दिवसांत ते विधेयक कायदा व्हायला हवे. (→ English: Appropriation Bill · हिन्दी: विनियोग विधेयक)

In exam EnglishSince 2017 the Union Budget has been presented on 1 February, and the Railway Budget was merged into it that year. After a general discussion in both Houses, the House adjourns for some weeks while departmentally related standing committees examine each ministry's demands for grants. The Lok Sabha then votes on the demands, and members may move cut motions: a policy cut (reduce the demand to one rupee, disapproving the policy), an economy cut (reduce it by a specified amount) or a token cut (reduce it by one hundred rupees, to air a grievance). On the last allotted day the Speaker puts all remaining demands to the vote together, discussed or not; this is the guillotine. Then the Appropriation Bill (Article 114) authorises withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the voted grants and charged expenditure; no amendment may vary the amount or purpose of a grant. Finally the Finance Bill gives effect to the tax proposals. Under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931, new tax rates can be collected at once, but this lapses unless the Finance Bill is enacted within 75 days of its introduction.

अर्थसंकल्प सगळे आधीच ओळखू शकत नाही, म्हणून अनुच्छेद 115 आणि 116 लवचिकता देतात. 115: पूरक अनुदान — या वर्षी एखाद्या सेवेसाठी दिलेली रक्कम अपुरी पडली तर; अतिरिक्त अनुदान — अर्थसंकल्पात न योजलेली नवी सेवा वर्षात आली तर; अधिक अनुदान — दिल्यापेक्षा जास्त खर्च आधीच झाला तर. अधिक अनुदाने लोकलेखा समितीच्या तपासणीनंतरच लोकसभेत येतात. 116: लेखानुदान — संपूर्ण अर्थसंकल्प मंजूर होईपर्यंत वर्षाच्या काही भागासाठी आगाऊ अनुदान, निवडणूक वर्षात नेहमीचे; प्रत्ययानुदान — अनपेक्षित मागणी, जिच्या आकारामुळे किंवा अनिश्चित स्वरूपामुळे तपशील देता येत नाही, कोऱ्या धनादेशासारखे; अपवादानुदान — कोणत्याही वित्तीय वर्षाच्या चालू सेवेचा भाग नसलेल्या उद्देशासाठी. लग्नाचे बजेट केले तरी अनपेक्षित खर्च येतातच — तसेच. या सगळ्यांसाठीही एकत्रित निधीतून पैसा काढायला कायदा लागतो. (→ English: vote on account · हिन्दी: लेखानुदान)

In exam EnglishArticles 115 and 116 provide for what the Budget cannot foresee. Under Article 115, a supplementary grant tops up an amount that proves insufficient for a service in the current year; an additional grant covers a new service not contemplated in the Budget; and an excess grant covers money already spent beyond the grant for that year, which by practice comes to the Lok Sabha only after the Public Accounts Committee has examined it. Under Article 116, a vote on account is a grant in advance for part of a financial year while the full Budget is still being voted, common in an election year; a vote of credit meets an unexpected demand whose size or indefinite character prevents the usual details, rather like a blank cheque; and an exceptional grant is for a purpose that forms no part of the current service of any financial year. Each still needs a law authorising withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund.

केंद्राचा पैसा तीन खात्यांत असतो. भारताचा एकत्रित निधी (266(1)): सरकारचे सर्व महसूल, घेतलेली कर्जे आणि परत मिळालेल्या कर्जांची रक्कम — ही मुख्य तिजोरी; संसदेच्या कायद्याशिवाय एक पैसाही काढता येत नाही. भारताचा लोकलेखा (266(2)): भविष्य निर्वाह निधी, अल्पबचत, न्यायालयीन ठेवी असा इतर पैसा — बहुतांश दुसऱ्यांचा, सरकारकडे सांभाळायला ठेवलेला; म्हणून संसदेच्या विनियोजनाशिवाय सरकारी कृतीनेच देणी होतात. बँकेतल्या आपल्या ठेवीसारखे. भारताचा आकस्मिकता निधी (267): 1950 च्या कायद्याने स्थापन; राष्ट्रपतींच्या अधीन आगाऊ निधी — अनपेक्षित खर्च लगेच करण्यासाठी, नंतर संसदेची मंजुरी; खर्च झालेली रक्कम एकत्रित निधीतून भरून काढली जाते. घरात अडीअडचणीसाठी बाजूला ठेवलेल्या पैशासारखे. प्रत्येक राज्यालाही अशीच तीन खाती असतात. (→ English: Consolidated Fund of India · हिन्दी: भारत की संचित निधि)

In exam EnglishThree accounts hold the Union's money. The Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266(1)) receives all the Union's revenues, the loans it raises and loan repayments it receives; nothing can leave it without a law of Parliament. The Public Account of India (Article 266(2)) receives all other public money, such as provident fund deposits, small savings and judicial deposits; since the government holds this money largely for others, payments from it are made by executive action without appropriation by Parliament. The Contingency Fund of India (Article 267), set up by the Contingency Fund of India Act, 1950, is an imprest at the disposal of the President, so that unforeseen expenditure can be met at once, pending authorisation by Parliament; the amount is later made good from the Consolidated Fund. Each State has its own Consolidated Fund, Public Account and Contingency Fund under the same articles.

हे सगळे एकाच तत्त्वात बसते: पैशाची थैली लोकांनी निवडलेल्या सभागृहाच्या हाती. अनुदानाच्या मागण्यांवर मतदान फक्त लोकसभा करते; धन विधेयक तिथेच सुरू होते, राज्यसभा अडवू शकत नाही; लोकसभेत अर्थसंकल्प मंजूर करून घेऊ न शकणारे सरकार राज्य करू शकत नाही — म्हणून पैशावरील नियंत्रण सामूहिक जबाबदारीशी (75(3)) जोडलेले आहे. राज्यसभाही अर्थसंकल्प आणि प्रत्येक विधेयकावर चर्चा करते; साधी विधेयके व घटनादुरुस्ती विधेयकांत समान भागीदार. राष्ट्रपतींच्या अनुमतीने कायदा पूर्ण होतो, पण मर्यादेत: साधे विधेयक एकदाच परत पाठवता येते, धन विधेयक परत पाठवताच येत नाही, घटनादुरुस्ती विधेयकाला अनुमती द्यावीच लागते. पैसा मंजूर झाल्यावरही संसदेचे लक्ष असते — तो कसा खर्च झाला हे समित्या, विशेषतः महालेखापरीक्षकांच्या अहवालांवर काम करणारी लोकलेखा समिती, तपासतात (भाग 4). (→ English: Lok Sabha · हिन्दी: लोक सभा)

In exam EnglishThe pieces fit one principle: the elected House controls the purse. The Lok Sabha alone votes on demands for grants, a Money Bill starts there and cannot be blocked by the Rajya Sabha, and a government that cannot pass its Budget in the Lok Sabha cannot govern, which ties financial control to collective responsibility under Article 75(3). The Rajya Sabha still debates the Budget and every bill, and is an equal partner on ordinary bills and Constitution Amendment Bills. The President's assent completes every law, within limits: an ordinary bill can be returned only once, a Money Bill not at all, and a Constitution Amendment Bill must receive assent. Part 4 explains how committees, especially the Public Accounts Committee using the Comptroller and Auditor-General's reports, check how the money was spent.

Exam traps

Recap

Practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements about a Money Bill:
1. It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
2. The Rajya Sabha may return it with amendments within 14 days.
3. If a question arises whether a bill is a Money Bill, the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is final.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: B. 1 and 3 only

Statements 1 and 3 follow Articles 109(1) and 110(3). Statement 2 is wrong: the Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations, not amendments, and the Lok Sabha may accept or reject them. So '1 only' leaves out a correct statement, and any option containing 2 is wrong.

Q2. Which one of the following is NOT charged on the Consolidated Fund of India?

  1. Salaries and allowances of judges of the Supreme Court
  2. Pensions of judges of High Courts
  3. Salaries and allowances of judges of High Courts
  4. Emoluments and allowances of the President
Show answer

Answer: C. Salaries and allowances of judges of High Courts

Article 112(3) charges the salaries of Supreme Court judges, the pensions of High Court judges and the President's emoluments on the Consolidated Fund of India. The salaries of High Court judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State (Article 202(3)), so that is the one not charged on the Union's Fund.

Q3. The 'pocket veto' of the President of India is possible because

  1. Article 111 expressly gives the President this power
  2. the Constitution fixes no time limit within which the President must act on a bill
  3. the President may return a Money Bill for reconsideration
  4. a bill returned once may be returned again
Show answer

Answer: B. the Constitution fixes no time limit within which the President must act on a bill

Article 111 does not mention any veto by name and sets no time limit, so the President can simply keep a bill pending, as President Zail Singh did with the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 1986. A Money Bill cannot be returned, and a bill passed again after being returned must receive assent, so the other options are wrong.

Q4. Match List I (cut motion) with List II (what it proposes):
List I
A. Policy cut
B. Economy cut
C. Token cut
List II
1. Reduce the demand by one hundred rupees
2. Reduce the demand to one rupee
3. Reduce the demand by a specified amount
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A-2, B-3, C-1
  2. A-1, B-3, C-2
  3. A-2, B-1, C-3
  4. A-3, B-2, C-1
Show answer

Answer: A. A-2, B-3, C-1

A policy cut reduces the demand to one rupee to show disapproval of the policy; an economy cut reduces it by a specified amount; a token cut reduces it by one hundred rupees to air a specific grievance. The other codes swap the policy and token cuts or misplace the economy cut.

Q5. Consider the following statements about a bill that would involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India but contains none of the matters listed in Article 110 (Article 117(3)):
1. It may be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
2. It cannot be introduced without the recommendation of the President.
3. Neither House can pass it unless the President has recommended its consideration to that House.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: C. 1 and 3 only

An Article 117(3) bill may begin in either House and needs no recommendation for introduction, so statement 2 is wrong; the recommendation is needed only before a House considers and passes it, so statement 3 is correct. '1 only' misses statement 3, and options with statement 2 are wrong.

Q6. Which one of the following is credited to the Public Account of India rather than to the Consolidated Fund of India?

  1. Income tax collected by the Union
  2. Money raised by the issue of treasury bills
  3. Provident fund deposits
  4. Money received in repayment of loans given by the Union
Show answer

Answer: C. Provident fund deposits

Article 266(1) sends all revenues (such as income tax), all loans raised (such as treasury bills) and all repayments of loans to the Consolidated Fund. Other public money that the government holds, such as provident fund deposits, goes to the Public Account under Article 266(2).

Q7. A grant made by the Lok Sabha in advance for part of a financial year, pending the completion of the voting on the Budget, is called

  1. a vote of credit
  2. an exceptional grant
  3. a supplementary grant
  4. a vote on account
Show answer

Answer: D. a vote on account

Article 116(1)(a) provides for a vote on account. A vote of credit meets an unexpected demand that cannot be described in the usual detail; an exceptional grant is for a purpose outside the current service of any year; a supplementary grant (Article 115) tops up an insufficient grant during the year.

Q8. Consider the following statements about an ordinary bill:
1. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha that has not been passed by the Lok Sabha lapses when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.
2. The bill is considered clause by clause at the second reading.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

Answer: B. 2 only

Article 107(4) says such a bill does not lapse on dissolution, so statement 1 is wrong. Clause-by-clause consideration and voting on amendments happen at the second reading, so statement 2 is correct. Options with statement 1 are wrong, and 'neither' ignores statement 2.

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