UPSC Prelims 2015 · Question 27 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2015 question on Rajya Sabha Money Bill Powers
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2015
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicParliament
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements:
1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. 1 and 2 only
Verdict
The answer is 1 and 2 only. The Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a Money Bill and cannot vote on Demands for Grants, but it can discuss the Annual Financial Statement.
Analysis
Statement 1 is CORRECT. Under Article 109 the Rajya Sabha may only make recommendations on a Money Bill, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject, and it must return the Bill within fourteen days. Statement 2 is CORRECT. Voting on Demands for Grants is the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha. Statement 3 is INCORRECT. The Budget, that is the Annual Financial Statement, is laid before both Houses and the Rajya Sabha can discuss it fully; what it cannot do is vote on the demands.
Source
M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 22, pages 283 to 286.
How to crack it
The line to hold is between discussing and deciding. The Rajya Sabha participates in deliberation on financial matters but has no decisive power over them, because the executive is responsible to the Lok Sabha and the purse follows that responsibility. Apply that single principle and each of the three statements resolves without separate recall. UPSC repeatedly tests this boundary by swapping discuss for vote, so read the verb carefully.