What is Article 113 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 113: Procedure in Parliament with respect to estimates (1) So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of
📅 Part V – The Union
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Article Number

113

part

Part V – The Union

Status

Active

Bare Acts Text

Article 113: Procedure in Parliament with respect to estimates

  • (1) So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be submitted to the vote of Parliament, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the discussion in either House of Parliament 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 House of the People, and the House of the People 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 President.
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Full Definition & Explanation

Article 113 of the Indian Constitution outlines the procedure for handling expenditure estimates in Parliament. It specifically addresses how the estimates related to the Consolidated Fund of India are treated. The Constitution states that these estimates do not require a vote in Parliament. However, this does not prevent discussions about them in either House. This means that while such expenditures can be debated, they cannot be altered by a vote. This impacts how government finances are scrutinized and ensures that Parliament is informed about these expenditures. The second part of Article 113 deals with other types of expenditure estimates. These must be submitted as demands for grants to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Members of the Lok Sabha can approve, deny, or suggest reductions to these demands. This grants the Lok Sabha a major role in financial matters, allowing it to influence government spending directly. As a result, citizens have a channel through which their representatives can ensure that public funds are used wisely and responsibly. The third key aspect of Article 113 is that any demand for a grant requires the President’s recommendation. This establishes a constitutional requirement that the executive branch must be involved in legislative financial decisions. It ensures a checks-and-balances system between the Parliament and the President. Overall, Article 113 is key for maintaining transparency in public expenditure and ensuring that Parliament plays an active role in fiscal management.

Historical Context

It specifically addresses how the estimates related to the Consolidated Fund of India are treated. The Constitution states that these estimates do not require a vote in Parliament. However, this does not prevent discussions about them in either House. This means that while such expenditures can be debated, they cannot be altered by a vote. Article 113 of the Indian Constitution outlines the procedure for handling expenditure estimates in Parliament. This impacts how government finances are scrutinized and ensures that Parliament is informed about these expenditures. The second part of Article 113 deals with other types of expenditure estimates. These must be submitted as demands for grants to the House of the People (Lok Sabha).

Key Features

– Estimates related to the Consolidated Fund do not require a vote.
– Parliament can discuss estimates related to the Consolidated Fund.
– Other expenditure estimates need to be submitted as demands for grants.
– Lok Sabha can approve, deny, or reduce demands for grants.
– All demands for grants must have the President’s recommendation.

Importance & Impact

– This article ensures a structured approach to financial governance
– It empowers the Lok Sabha to control government spending decisions.
– The requirement for presidential recommendation adds an executive check
– Discussion of estimates promotes transparency in government finances
– It helps maintain a balance of power between legislature and executive.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements about Article 113: 1. Demands for Grants are voted upon only by Lok Sabha, not Rajya Sabha. 2. Lok Sabha can increase a demand for grants if it chooses. 3. A demand for a grant cannot be made without the President’s recommendation. 4. Cut motions are a mechanism for Lok Sabha members to reduce Demands for Grants. Which statements are correct? a) 1 and 3 only b) 1, 3 and 4 only c) 2 and 4 only d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

Answer: b) 1, 3 and 4 only Statement 1 is correct — Demands for Grants are exclusively Lok Sabha’s domain per Article 113. Statement 2 is wrong — Lok Sabha can only reduce or refuse demands, not increase them. Statement 3 is correct per Article 113(2). Statement 4 is correct — cut motions allow MPs to reduce demands for grants as a form of financial oversight.

Key Takeaways

✓ Article 113 outlines financial procedures in Parliament
✓ It separates expenditure into two main categories
✓ The Lok Sabha plays a key role in approving budgets.
✓ Presidential recommendation is necessary for grant demands
✓ Transparency and accountability in spending are prioritized

FAQs

Article 113 of the Indian Constitution outlines the procedure for handling expenditure estimates in Parliament. It specifically addresses how the estimates related to the Consolidated Fund of India are treated. The Constitution states that these estimates do not require a vote in Parliament. However, this does not prevent discussions about them in either House.

These must be submitted as demands for grants to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Members of the Lok Sabha can approve, deny, or suggest reductions to these demands. This grants the Lok Sabha a major role in financial matters, allowing it to influence government spending directly. Article 113 of the Indian Constitution outlines the procedure for handling expenditure estimates in Parliament.

This establishes a constitutional requirement that the executive branch must be involved in legislative financial decisions. It ensures a checks-and-balances system between the Parliament and the President. Overall, Article 113 is key for maintaining transparency in public expenditure and ensuring that Parliament plays an active role in fiscal management. Article 113 of the Indian Constitution outlines the procedure for handling expenditure estimates in Parliament.

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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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