What will follow if a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya Sabha?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) The Lok Sabha may still proceed with the Bill, accepting or not accepting the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha has no power to amend a Money Bill. It can only recommend changes, and the Lok Sabha is free to accept or reject any or all of them. So the Lok Sabha can go on with the Bill either way.
- ✓ (a) Under Article 109, the Rajya Sabha returns the Bill with recommendations. The Lok Sabha may accept or reject all or any of them and then proceed. If it accepts none, the Bill is deemed passed by both Houses in the form the Lok Sabha passed it.
- ✗ (b) The Lok Sabha is not barred from considering the Bill. The Rajya Sabha's recommendations are not binding, so the Lok Sabha simply decides what to do with them.
- ✗ (c) The Constitution gives no step of sending a Money Bill back to the Rajya Sabha for reconsideration. The Rajya Sabha gets the Bill once, for recommendations within 14 days.
- ✗ (d) A joint sitting under Article 108 is expressly not available for a Money Bill. In a Money Bill, the Lok Sabha's view prevails.
Remember · Rajya Sabha can only recommend, not amend, a Money Bill. It has 14 days. The Lok Sabha may accept or reject any recommendation. No joint sitting applies to Money Bills.
Sources
- Lok Sabha Secretariat (sansad.in) – Position of the two Houses of Parliament ↗ “Rajya Sabha cannot amend a Money Bill directly; it can only recommend amendments in such a Bill. Lok Sabha may either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations made by Rajya Sabha.”
- Lok Sabha (sansad.in) – Legislation: Introduction of Bills ↗ “Rajya Sabha is required to return a Money Bill passed and transmitted by Lok Sabha within a period of 14 days from the date of its receipt.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
