What is Article 109 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 109:Special procedure in respect of Money Bills (1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States. (2) After a Money Bill has been
📅 Part V – The Union
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Article Number

109

part

Part V – The Union

Status

Active

Bare Acts Text

Article 109:Special procedure in respect of Money Bills

  • (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.
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Full Definition & Explanation

Article 109 of the Indian Constitution deals specifically with the procedure for Money Bills in the legislative process. A Money Bill can only be introduced in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and not in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). This is major because it ensures that the elected representatives of the people have the sole authority to initiate financial legislation, reflecting a democratic principle where financial matters are directly linked to the public’s elected representatives. Once a Money Bill passes in the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for recommendations. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum of fourteen days to return the Bill with its suggestions. This time limit emphasizes the urgency and importance of financial legislation, which often requires timely approval to implement government policies effectively. If the Lok Sabha accepts any recommendations from the Rajya Sabha, the Money Bill is considered passed with those amendments. However, if the Lok Sabha does not accept any of the changes, the Bill remains valid as originally approved by the Lok Sabha. This process ensures that while the Rajya Sabha can suggest changes, the final decision rests with the Lok Sabha, which represents the electorate directly. Additionally, if the Rajya Sabha fails to respond within the stipulated fourteen days, the Money Bill is automatically considered passed in its original form. This provision prevents delays that could hinder necessary government financial operations and keeps the legislative process efficient. The implications of Article 109 are profound. It protects the integrity of financial legislation by ensuring that only the directly elected representatives can initiate such Bills. This procedure aims to maintain accountability in matters of public finance, ensuring that any taxation or expenditure decisions are made with the consent of those who represent the people’s interests. In…

Historical Context

A Money Bill can only be introduced in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and not in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). This is major because it ensures that the elected representatives of the people have the sole authority to initiate financial legislation, reflecting a democratic principle where financial matters are directly linked to the public’s elected representatives. Once a Money Bill passes in the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for recommendations. The Rajya Sabha has a maximum of fourteen days to return the Bill with its suggestions.

Key Features

– A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
– The Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes to a Money Bill.
– The Rajya Sabha has fourteen days to return the Bill with suggestions.
– The Lok Sabha can accept or reject Rajya Sabha’s recommendations.
– If the Rajya Sabha does not respond, the Bill is deemed passed.

Importance & Impact

– Ensures that financial legislation originates from the directly elected representatives.
– Maintains a clear distinction between the roles of both Houses in financial matters.
– Encourages timely legislative action on critical financial Bills
– Promotes accountability in financial governance through elected representatives
– Protects the integrity of the budgetary process by limiting amendments.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements about Article 109: 1. Money Bills can originate in either House of Parliament. 2. Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations on Money Bills, not amendments. 3. If Rajya Sabha does not return a Money Bill within 14 days, it is deemed passed. 4. There can be a joint sitting to resolve deadlock on Money Bills. Which statements are correct? a) 2 and 3 only b) 1 and 4 only c) 2, 3 and 4 only d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. Statement 1 is incorrect because a Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Statements 2 and 3 are correct as the Lok Sabha has the authority to accept or reject recommendations, and the Money Bill is deemed passed if not returned in 14 days.

Key Takeaways

✓ Money Bills can only begin in the Lok Sabha.
✓ Rajya Sabha’s role is limited to recommending changes.
✓ Timely legislative action is emphasized with a 14-day limit.
✓ The Lok Sabha maintains final control over Money Bills.
✓ Automatic passage occurs if no response is given by Rajya Sabha.

FAQs

Article 109 of the Indian Constitution deals specifically with the procedure for Money Bills in the legislative process. A Money Bill can only be introduced in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and not in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). This is major because it ensures that the elected representatives of the people have the sole authority to initiate financial legislation, reflecting a democratic principle where financial matters are directly linked to the public’s elected representatives.

If the Lok Sabha accepts any recommendations from the Rajya Sabha, the Money Bill is considered passed with those amendments. However, if the Lok Sabha does not accept any of the changes, the Bill remains valid as originally approved by the Lok Sabha. This process ensures that while the Rajya Sabha can suggest changes, the final decision rests with the Lok Sabha, which represents the electorate directly.

This provision prevents delays that could hinder necessary government financial operations and keeps the legislative process efficient. It protects the integrity of financial legislation by ensuring that only the directly elected representatives can initiate such Bills. This procedure aims to maintain accountability in matters of public finance, ensuring that any taxation or expenditure decisions are made with the consent of those who represent the people’s interests.

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Pramod is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StudyHub. He holds a Master's degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology, alongside more than 7+ years spent building and verifying competitive exam content for Indian aspirants. He leads StudyHub's editorial process across Indian Polity, the Constitution, Indian Economy, History, Geography, Science, and the platform's other subject areas — checking every article against primary sources (bare act text and Gazette notifications for constitutional topics, government and Economic Survey data for economy content, standard reference material elsewhere) and flagging it for re-verification whenever a relevant amendment, policy, or data update makes an earlier version outdated.
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