Part VI - The States • Article

Article 203 Simplified: Procedure in Legislature with respect to estimates

Article 203 sets the rules for how the State Budget estimates go through the Legislature. The charged expenditure items cannot be voted on—but they can be discussed. The voted items are submitted as 'demands for grants' to the Assembly, which can: (a) approve the full amount, (b) reject the demand entirely, or (c) approve with a reduced amount. Crucially, no demand for a grant can be placed before the House without the Governor's recommendation—preventing private members from proposing new spending.

Official Text

(1) So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of a State shall not be submitted to the vote of the Legislative Assembly, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the discussion in the Legislature of any of those estimates. (2) So much of the said estimates as relates to other expenditure shall be submitted in the form of demands for grants to the Legislative Assembly, and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to assent, or to refuse to assent, to any demand, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount specified therein. (3) No demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the Governor.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Once the State Budget is presented, the Assembly gets to decide how much money each department actually gets. It's like approving a shopping list—the Assembly can say 'yes to everything,' 'you can have less,' or 'no, you get nothing for that project.' But the Assembly can't say 'you deserve MORE than what the government asked for.' And most importantly, only the government (through the Governor) can add new things to the shopping list.

Student Mode

Article 203 mirrors Article 113 (Union budget procedure). Three core rules: (1) Charged expenditure—not voted on, but may be discussed; (2) Voted expenditure—submitted as 'demands for grants' to the Assembly; Assembly can assent, refuse, or assent with reduction; (3) No demand for a grant without the Governor's recommendation—private member spending proposals are constitutionally barred.

Example

If the Madhya Pradesh government wants to spend ₹500 crore on a new highway, this appears as a 'demand for grant.' The Assembly can approve ₹500 crore, reduce it to ₹300 crore, or reject the demand entirely. However, a private MLA cannot introduce their own demand for ₹100 crore for a pet project—only the Governor (i.e., the State Cabinet) can initiate spending demands.

Key Takeaway

Article 203 gives the Assembly power to reduce or reject (but not increase) budget demands, while ensuring only the government—not private members—can propose new expenditure.

FAQs

Can the Legislative Assembly increase a demand for grant beyond what the government proposed?

No. Article 203(2) only gives the Assembly power to assent, refuse, or assent with a reduction. The Assembly cannot increase the amount of any grant—that would be an executive function.

What is a 'cut motion' in the context of Article 203?

A cut motion is a parliamentary device by which the opposition moves to reduce a demand for grant, often to express disapproval of government policy. If it passes, the demand is reduced—and if the government loses such a vote, it may be treated as a vote of no-confidence.

Quiz

Under Article 203, can the State Assembly increase the amount in a demand for grant beyond the government's proposal?

Answer: No, the Assembly can only approve, reduce, or reject

Under Article 203(3), who must recommend a demand for grant before it can be placed before the State Assembly?

Answer: The Governor