Home The Constitution Part V Article 116

Art. 116 Part V: The Union

Votes on Account, Votes of Credit and Exceptional Grants

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the House of the People shall have power—(a) to make any grant in advance in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of any financial year pending the completion of the procedure prescribed in article 113 for the voting of such grant and the passing of the law in accordance with the provisions of article 114 in relation to that expenditure, [a 'vote on account']; (b) to make a grant 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 an annual financial statement, [a 'vote of credit']; and (c) to make an exceptional grant which forms no part of the current service of any financial year...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives the Lok Sabha flexibility for special financial situations — a 'vote on account' lets government spending continue temporarily while the full Budget process is still underway (useful when Budget approval takes longer than the start of the new financial year), a 'vote of credit' handles genuinely unforeseeable, large-scale needs (like a sudden national emergency) too indefinite to detail in advance, and 'exceptional grants' cover one-off spending outside normal annual patterns.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the government can keep functioning financially even if the full Budget hasn't been finally approved by the time a new financial year begins — the 'vote on account' bridges that gap, a mechanism used routinely every year for at least the initial part of the fiscal year's spending.

Read alongside this one

Art. 112 — Annual Financial Statement

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 116

What's the practical difference between a full Budget and a 'vote on account'?

A vote on account provides temporary spending authorisation for a LIMITED period (typically covering essential expenses for a couple of months) pending the full Budget process's completion — it's not meant as a substitute for the complete annual financial statement and appropriation process.

← PreviousArticle 115: Supplementary, Additional or Excess Grants Next →Article 117: Special Provisions as to Financial Bills

The text above reproduces Article 116 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.