BharatNotes Appropriation
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
Parliamentary control over the public purse is exercised most decisively through the Appropriation Bill, whereby the legislature converts approved demands for grants into a lawful appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund, ensuring that not a rupee is spent without sanction.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
appropriate (v/adj), appropriated (adj), appropriating (v pres.p), appropriations (n pl), misappropriation (n)
Root
Latin ad- (to) + proprius (one's own) → appropriāre (to make one's own) → appropriātiō.
Etymology
From Latin appropriātiō, from appropriāre ("to make one's own"), from ad- ("to") + proprius ("one's own, proper").
Memory Hook
Root proprius = "one's own" (cf. property, proper): to ap-PROPRI-ate is to make something your own — and an Appropriation Bill makes the public money the government's to spend.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
Legislative authorisation to withdraw specified sums from the Consolidated Fund for specified purposes. The sequence is the examinable content and must be kept in order. The Demands for Grants are voted by the Lok Sabha alone, which may assent to, refuse or reduce a demand but can never increase it. The Appropriation Bill then authorises withdrawal of the amounts so voted together with the charged expenditure, which is not put to vote at all though it may be discussed. The Finance Bill separately gives effect to the taxation proposals. Two rules follow that are frequently missed: no amendment may be moved to an Appropriation Bill that would vary the amount or alter the destination of a grant already voted, since that would allow the House to undo by amendment what it settled by vote; and a vote on account under Article 116 authorises expenditure for part of the year when the full process cannot be completed in time, which is a timing device rather than a fresh approval of policy.
Don’t Confuse It With
An Appropriation Bill authorises withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund, while the Finance Bill gives effect to taxation proposals, and the two are separate stages routinely confused. Demands for Grants form the voted portion, whereas charged expenditure, such as the salaries of judges and of the Comptroller and Auditor General, is not put to vote. A vote on account authorises spending for part of the year pending completion of the process. Supplementary, additional and excess grants meet respectively a shortfall during the year, a new service, and spending beyond what was authorised.
Hindi Meaning
विनियोग (viniyog); अनुदान मांगें (anudān māngen) for Demands for Grants.
Common Questions
- Can the Lok Sabha increase a Demand for Grant?
- No. It may assent to a demand, refuse it, or reduce it, but it cannot increase the amount sought by the government.
- What is a vote on account?
- An authorisation under Article 116 to draw funds for part of the financial year when the full budget process cannot be completed in time, covering expenditure rather than approving new policy.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Mains 2020 · GS4 · 20 marks — Ethics in Public Administration
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Appropriation” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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