Home The Constitution Part V Article 115

Art. 115 Part V: The Union

Supplementary, Additional or Excess Grants

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) The President shall—(a) if the amount authorised by any law made in accordance with the provisions of article 114 to be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the purposes of that year or when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure...; or (b) if any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service and for that year, cause to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament another statement showing the estimated amount of that expenditure or cause to be presented to the House of the People a demand for such excess...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article addresses situations where the originally approved Budget proves insufficient during the year, or where spending has already exceeded what was authorised — requiring the government to go back to Parliament with supplementary/additional demands, or seek retroactive approval for excess spending that already occurred.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why you might hear about a 'Supplementary Budget' or 'Supplementary Demands for Grants' during a financial year — this Article's mechanism for handling genuine budget shortfalls or unexpected needs that arise after the original annual Budget was already approved.

Read alongside this one

Art. 114 — Appropriation Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 115

Can the government simply spend beyond its approved Budget without consequence?

Not without following this Article's process — genuine excess spending requires the government to go back to Parliament for retroactive approval through a specific excess demand, maintaining Parliamentary control even over unplanned expenditure.

← PreviousArticle 114: Appropriation Bills Next →Article 116: Votes on Account, Votes of Credit and Exceptional Grants

The text above reproduces Article 115 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.