Part V - Parliament • Article

Article 109 Simplified: Special procedure in respect of Money Bills

Money Bills have a special 'Fast Track' rule. They can ONLY start in the Lok Sabha. Once passed, they go to the Rajya Sabha, but the Rajya Sabha only has 14 days to look at it. They can suggest changes, but the Lok Sabha can simply ignore them. If 14 days pass, the bill is considered passed anyway.

Official Text

(1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States. (2) After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People it shall be transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations and the Council of States shall within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt of the Bill return the Bill to the House of the People with its recommendations and the House of the People may thereupon either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States. (3) If the House of the People accepts any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendments recommended by the Council of States and accepted by the House of the People. (4) If the House of the People does not accept any of the recommendations of the Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People without any of the amendments recommended by the Council of States. (5) If a Money Bill passed by the House of the People and transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations is not returned to the House of the People within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Money Bills are special bills about taxes and government spending. Only the Lok Sabha (the House we directly vote for) can start them. The Rajya Sabha gets to look at it and suggest changes, but only for 14 days. If 14 days pass and the RS hasn't responded, the bill is automatically passed! And the Lok Sabha can ignore the RS's suggestions entirely.

Student Mode

Article 109 is the special procedure for Money Bills: (1) Money Bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha — never the Rajya Sabha. (2) After Lok Sabha passes it, it goes to the Rajya Sabha. (3) The Rajya Sabha can only recommend amendments — it cannot reject the bill outright. (4) If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses. (5) The Lok Sabha may accept or reject any RS recommendations. (6) The bill goes to the President as passed by the Lok Sabha.

Example

This is why the Union Budget (a Money Bill) is primarily controlled by the Lok Sabha; the Rajya Sabha cannot stop the country's finances.

Key Takeaway

The Lok Sabha has supreme power over the nation's money.

FAQs

Can the Rajya Sabha reject a Money Bill?

No. The Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations. If it rejects the bill outright, or if 14 days pass, the bill is deemed passed by both Houses in the form Lok Sabha passed it.

Who certifies that a bill is a Money Bill?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Speaker's certification is final and cannot be questioned in any court (Article 110(3)).

Why is the Rajya Sabha's power limited on Money Bills?

Because the Lok Sabha represents the people who pay taxes. Financial control must remain with the directly elected House. This mirrors the UK's Parliament Act 1911.