Union Budget: Constitutional Procedures Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

Union Budget: Constitutional Procedures

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Explores how Article 112 requires the government to present an annual financial statement. The budget is divided into Revenue and Capital accounts, with proposals for taxation and expenditures. After the Finance Minister’s speech, departmental demands for grants are scrutinized by parliamentary committees, culminating in the Appropriation and Finance Bills. Parliament’s approval is mandatory for fund withdrawals. Constitutional safeguards (Article 266, 267) regulate the Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, and Public Account. The “cut motions” allow the Lok Sabha to check overspending. Understanding the budget’s constitutional dimension clarifies how fiscal policies and legislative oversight converge to shape India’s economic direction each year.