PARLIAMENTARY GRANTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Indian government sought parliamentary approval for an additional expenditure (Additional grant) of nearly Rs 1.3 lakh crore, primarily allocated to higher-than-budgeted food and fertilizer subsidies, as well as spending on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).

Parliamentary Grants

• Supplementary Grant: It is granted when the amount authorised by the Parliament through the appropriation act for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for that year.
• Additional Grant: It is granted when a need has arisen during the current financial year for additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the budget for that year.
• Excess Grant: It is granted when money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service in the budget for that year.

oIt is voted by the Lok Sabha after the financial year. Before the demands for excess grants are submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting, they must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.

• Vote of Credit: It is granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India, when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service, the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in a budget.

oHence, it is like a blank cheque given to the Executive by the Lok Sabha.

• Exceptional Grant: It is granted for a special purpose and forms no part of the current service of any financial year.
• Token Grant: It is granted when funds to meet the proposed expenditure on a new service can be made available by reappropriation.

oA demand for the grant of a token sum (of Re 1) is submitted to the vote of the Lok Sabha and if assented, funds are made available.