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Art. 206 Part VI: The States

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 Legislative Assembly of a State 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 203 for the voting of such grant... [a 'vote on account']; (b) to make a grant for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of the State when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given... [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

The state-level mirror of Article 116 — the same three special financial mechanisms (votes on account, votes of credit, and exceptional grants) available to the State Legislature to handle timing gaps, genuinely unforeseeable needs, and one-off exceptional spending.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why state governments, like the Union, can continue functioning financially through a 'vote on account' even if the full state Budget process hasn't concluded by the start of a new financial year.

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 206

Do states use 'votes on account' as routinely as the Union does?
Yes — this is a standard, regularly-used mechanism in most states' budgetary calendars, providing temporary spending authority pending full Budget approval.

The text above reproduces Article 206 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.