What are Demands for Grants?
- Definition: Demands for Grants refer to expenditure estimates that require Lok Sabha approval under Article 113 of the Constitution.
- Scope:
- Covers revenue & capital expenditure, grants to states/UTs, and loans & advances.
- Each ministry/department presents its own Demand; large ministries may have multiple demands.
- Types of Expenditures:
- Voted expenditure: Requires approval from the Lok Sabha.
- Charged expenditure: Includes President’s salary, judges' salaries, debt servicing, and does not require voting.
Constitutional Provisions on Demands for Grants:
- Article 113: No demand for a grant can be made without the President’s recommendation.
- Article 114: Money cannot be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without Parliamentary approval.
- Article 115: Allows for supplementary, additional, or excess grants when the original budget allocation is insufficient.
- Article 116: Provides for Vote on Account, Vote of Credit, and Exceptional Grants if the budget is not passed before the financial year begins.
Voting on Demands for Grants:
- Exclusive power of Lok Sabha (Rajya Sabha cannot vote).
- Voting applies only to the votable part of the budget.
- Each Demand is voted on separately, allowing for discussion.
- If all demands are not discussed within the allocated time, the Speaker applies the Guillotine, approving all remaining Demands without discussion.
