From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Article 115, 116
Mains level : Supplementary Grants
Finance Minister has tabled the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for this financial year in the Lok Sabha.
Supplementary Demand for Grants
- Article 115 of the constitution provides for Supplementary, additional or excess grants. (Note: Article 116 provides for Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants.)
- They are additional grants which are required to meet the expenditure of the government
- Their demand is presented when the authorized amounts are insufficient and need for additional expenditure has arisen.
Why need supplementary grants?
- When actual expenditure incurred exceeds the approved grants of the Parliament, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Railways presents a Demand for Excess Grant.
- It is needed for government expenditure over and above the amount for which Parliamentary approval was already obtained during the Budget session.
- When grants, authorised by the Parliament, fall short of the required expenditure, an estimate is presented before the Parliament for Supplementary or Additional grants.
- These grants are presented and passed by the Parliament before the end of the financial year.
Who notices such grants?
- The Comptroller and Auditor General of India bring such excesses to the notice of the Parliament.
- The Public Accounts Committee examines these excesses and gives recommendations to the Parliament.
What are other grants?
- Excess Grant: It is the grant in excess of the approved grants for meeting the requisite expenses of the government.
- Additional Grant: It is granted when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the Budget for that year.
- Token Grant: When funds to meet proposed expenditure on a new service can be made available by re-appropriation, demand for the grant of a token sum may be submitted to the vote of the House and, if the House assents to the demand, funds may be so made available.