Money Bill versus Finance Bill

Money Bills are those that are classified under Article 110 (1) of the Constitution of India. Every Money Bill is essentially a financial bill but not every financial bill is a money bill.

Under article 110(1) of the Constitution, a Bill is deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely:

• (a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;
• (b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India;
• (c) the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such fund;
• (d) the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
• (e) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;
• (f) the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or
• (g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f).

Finance Bill is a secret bill introduced in Lok Sabha every year immediately after the presentation of the General Budget to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government of India for the following financial year. Finance Bills are treated as Money Bills as they substantially deal with amendments to various tax laws.

Difference between Money Bill and Financial Bill:

1. A Money Bill deals solely with matters specified in article 110(1) (a) to (g) of the Constitution, while a Financial Bill does not exclusively deal with all or any of the matters specified in the said article that is to say it contains some other provisions also.
2. Financial Bills can be divided into two categories. In the first category are Bills which inter-alia contain provisions attracting article 110(1) (a) to (f) of the Constitution. They are categorised as Financial Bills under article 117(1) of the Constitution. Like Money Bills, they can be introduced only in Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the President. However, other restrictions in regard to Money Bills do not apply to this category of Bills.
3. Financial Bill under article 117(1) of the Constitution can be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses. In the second category are those Bills which inter-alia contain provisions which would on enactment involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India. Such Bills are categorised as Financial Bills under article 117 (3) of the Constitution. Such Bills can be introduced in either House of Parliament. However, recommendation of the President is essential for consideration of these Bills by either House and unless such recommendation is received, neither House can pass the Bill.