Definition of “Money Bills”

Quick Summary (TL;DR)

Article 199 (Definition of “Money Bills”): Regulates State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Councils under Part VI.

In Simple Citizen Words

Article 199 ('Definition of “Money Bills”') in Part VI, Chapter III governs the State Legislature (Vidhan Sabha and, where applicable, Vidhan Parishad). It sets the constitutional rules for composition of Assemblies, MLA qualifications/disqualifications, sessions, Speaker/Deputy Speaker duties, passage of State Bills and Budgets, assent to Bills (Arts 200–201), and legislative privileges. Specifically: (1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be 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...

Key Constitutional Provisions

Constitutional Mandate (Art. 199): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Definition of “Money Bills”' under Part VI

Structured across 4 clause(s) and 9 sub-clause(s) with clear procedural conditions

Exercises of constitutional office under this article must follow aid, advice, and established constitutional conventions

Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions

State Legislatures must legislate within the State and Concurrent Lists (Seventh Schedule) and cannot violate Fundamental Rights or constitutional procedures.

Why This Matters in Daily Life

Guarantees democratic law-making and budget scrutiny at the state level through your elected MLAs.

Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates:

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Dr. B. R. Ambedkar & K. M. Munshi

Drafting Committee Leaders • June 2–3, 1949

🏛️ Constituent Assembly Debates (1946–1949)

Core Constitutional Debate & Dilemma

Framing context for Article 199: Empowering directly elected State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas) over state subjects and budgets while allowing States the option to create or abolish a second chamber (Vidhan Parishad).

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"The Legislative Assembly directly elected by adult franchise is the primary sovereign forum of the people in each State, holding the State Cabinet accountable for every rupee of state revenue."

Assembly Resolution & Final Synthesis

Constitutional resolution in Article 199: Codified Articles 168–213 regulating State Legislatures, flexible creation/abolition of Legislative Councils (Art 169), Money Bill procedures, and time-bound assent to State Bills (Art 200).

🏛️ Constitutional Significance: During the Constituent Assembly deliberations, Article 199 was codified as an integral pillar of India's constitutional governance.

Official Constitutional Text (Gazette Bare Act)

Authoritative statutory text as enacted and amended by Parliament • Clause-by-Clause Statutory Breakdown

India Code • Govt. of India Archive

Clause (1)

For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely: —

Sub-clause (a)

the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;

Sub-clause (b)

the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the State, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the State;

Sub-clause (c)

the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of the State, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;

Sub-clause (d)

the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State;

Sub-clause (e)

the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;

Sub-clause (f)

the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of the State or the public account of the State or the custody or issue of such money; or

Sub-clause (g)

any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f).

Clause (2)

A Bill shall not be deemed to be a Money Bill by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.

Clause (3)

If any question arises whether a Bill introduced in the Legislature of a State which has a Legislative Council is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of such State thereon shall be final.

Clause (4)

There shall be endorsed on every Money Bill when it is transmitted to the Legislative Council under article 198, and when it is presented to the Governor for assent under article 200, the certificate of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly signed by him that it is a Money Bill.

Public Domain & Statutory Authenticity Notice

Under Section 52(1)(q) of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Constitution of India, Bare Acts of Parliament, Gazette Notifications, and Judicial Judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts are in the Public Domain. Text is reproduced from the official Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India (India Code) archives.

Then vs Now: Constitutional Evolution & Visual Diff

Definition of “Money Bills”

🟢 Original 1950 Text Intact (Zero Textual Repeal) Baseline: Jan 26, 1950 → Today

ORIGINAL BASELINE (1950)

Enacted on 26 January 1950 by the Constituent Assembly of India. The foundational constitutional text of Article 199 (Definition of “Money Bills”) has remained intact since Day 1 without parliamentary deletion or repeal.

CURRENT ENFORCEABLE STATUS (TODAY)

100% Original 1950 Text Enforceable Today: Article 199 (Definition of “Money Bills”): Regulates State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Councils under Part VI.

Key Amendment Milestones & Textual Modifications

Original Enactment by the Constituent Assembly

Year 1950

Why it happened: Crafted by the Founding Fathers & Mothers with enduring constitutional clarity; its core text has stood untouched for over 75 years.

                                    Status: 🟢 Unchanged Since 26 January 1950 — Original Constitutional Mandate Preserved Intact                                

Article 198 Ask Nyaya Saarthi AI About This Article Article 200

Emergency Citizen Helplines

Definition of “Money Bills”

Official Constitutional Text (Gazette Bare Act)

Then vs Now: Constitutional Evolution & Visual Diff

Key Amendment Milestones & Textual Modifications