Government Budgeting in India – The Process and Constitutional Requirements

What exactly is a budget?

A budget is a detailed report by the government that outlines its income and spending for the year. It acts as the government’s annual financial statement, showing expected revenues and planned expenses. This helps in managing resources, funding projects, and ensuring economic stability for the country.

Budget in the Indian Constitution

The term ‘Budget’ is not explicitly mentioned in the Indian Constitution; instead, the corresponding term used is ‘Annual Financial Statement’ (Article 112).

Constitutional Requirements Making Budget Necessary

• Article 265: No tax shall be levied or collected except by the authority of law, requiring parliamentary approval for taxation.

• Article 266: No expenditure can be incurred except with the authorization of the Legislature, necessitating parliamentary approval for expenditures.

• Article 112: The President shall, in respect of every financial year, cause to be laid before Parliament the Annual Financial Statement.

FRBM Act

The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, enacted in 2003, aims at better budget management. It mandates certain documents to be presented in Parliament annually, alongside the Budget, regarding the country’s fiscal policy.

Budget Documents

The Budget documents include:

1. Annual Financial Statement (AFS): Article 112
2. Demands for Grants (DG): Article 113
3. Appropriation Bill: Article 114(3)
4. Finance Bill: Article 110(a)
5. Memorandum Explaining the Provisions in the Finance Bill.
6. Macro-economic framework for the relevant financial year – FRBM Act
7. Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement for the financial year – FRBM Act
8. Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement – FRBM Act
9. Medium Term Expenditure Framework Statement – FRBM Act
10. Expenditure Budget Volume-1
11. Expenditure Budget Volume-2
12. Receipts Budget
13. Budget at a glance
14. Highlights of Budget
15. Status of Implementation of Announcements made in Finance Minister’s Budget Speech of the previous financial year.

Documents at Serial 1-4 are mandated by the Constitution, and those at Serial 6-9 are as per the provisions of the FRBM Act. Other documents support the mandated ones with explanatory content.

Government Budgeting: Railway Budget Presentation

Until 2016, the Indian Railways budget was presented separately but merged with the Union Budget since 2017. Figures related to Railways are included in the Annual Financial Statement.

Government Budgeting: Union Budget Presentation

The Budget is presented to Parliament on a date fixed by the President. Since 2017, it is presented on February 1, preceded by the Economic Survey on January 31. In an election year, the Budget may be presented twice — first for a Vote on Account and later in full.

Vote on Account

If the Parliament cannot vote on the entire budget before the new financial year, a Vote on Account is used, providing funds for government operations for a part of the year, usually two months.

Budget Speech

The Finance Minister’s Budget Speech is in two parts: Part A deals with the general economic survey, while Part B relates to taxation proposals. The Annual Financial Statement is presented at the conclusion of the speech in the Lok Sabha.

Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams

1. Budget Basis: The Indian government’s annual financial statement, termed the budget, is rooted in constitutional requirements outlined in Article 112.
2. Constitutional Mandates: Taxation (Article 265) and expenditures (Article 266) demand parliamentary approval, ensuring fiscal accountability.
3. FRBM Act: Enacted in 2003, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act enhances budgetary control and mandates key documents for parliamentary presentation.
4. Key Budget Documents: Include Annual Financial Statement, Demands for Grants, Appropriation Bill, Finance Bill, and various statements mandated by the FRBM Act.
5. Railway Budget Integration: Since 2017, the Indian Railways budget is part of the Union Budget, presented on February 1 annually.
6. Vote on Account: Used when the full budget cannot be approved before the new financial year, ensuring government operations for a limited period.
7. Budget Speech: Finance Minister’s speech has two parts—general economic survey and taxation proposals. The Annual Financial Statement is laid before Parliament at the conclusion.
8. Economic Survey: Presented a day before the budget, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s economic status.
9. Parliamentary Process: Budget discussions follow presentation, crucial for effective governance and financial planning.
10. Constitutional Alignment: The budget process aligns with constitutional provisions, upholding transparency and accountability in financial matters.