Question

Who decides whether a bill is a money bill or not?

Answer 1

Hint: In the course of the freedom struggle, a broad consensus emerged that Parliament would be the most important institution in the nation. Today, it serves as the central institution in our constitutional democracy. The Indian legislative system is a bicameral one which means that there are two Houses at the centre responsible for making laws and other deliberative functions— the Lok Sabha or the House of People and the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States. Three kinds of bills come before the Parliament—ordinary bill, money bill and Constitutional Amendment bill. In case of ordinary and Constitutional Amendment bills, they can originate in either Houses of the Parliament. However, with a money bill, the legislative process is slightly different. A money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with the prior recommendation of the President.

Complete step by step solution:
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the final authority to determine whether a bill is a money bill or not as stated in Article 110(3). The Speaker is the presiding officer in the Lok Sabha elected from within the members of the Lok Sabha and occupies a pivotal position in Indian parliamentary democracy.

Note: After the money bill is passed by the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for consideration and the Rajya Sabha has to send it back within 14 days with its recommendations which the Lok Sabha is free to accept or reject. If the Rajya Sabha fails to do so within the expiration deadline, the bill is directly sent to the President for their assent.