Current Affairs Topics Quiz Archive
International Relations Economics Polity & Governance Environment & Ecology Science & Technology Internal Security Geography Social Issues Art & Culture Modern History

Parliament Budget session LIVE: Lok Sabha resumes, continues discussion on resolution against Speaker

March 11, 2026 4 min read Polity & Governance GS Paper 2 (Polity Parliament Financial Accountability)
On This Page ▼

What Happened

  • The Lok Sabha resumed its second day of debate on the Opposition resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla during the Budget Session (March 11, 2026)
  • Opposition leaders continued complaints about the vacant Deputy Speaker post (unfilled for 12 years), microphones being switched off during speeches, and Opposition members being denied floor time
  • The Budget Session was also due to take up Supplementary Demands for Grants — a key parliamentary financial control mechanism — running alongside the contentious Speaker removal debate
  • The ruling coalition maintained comfortable numbers, and the resolution was ultimately defeated; the Budget Session's financial business — including Supplementary Grants — proceeded

Static Topic Bridges

Supplementary Demands for Grants: Article 115

Where the amount authorised in the annual Budget (Appropriation Act) proves insufficient, or a need arises for expenditure not anticipated at the time of the Budget, the government must come back to Parliament for Supplementary Demands under Article 115.

  • Article 115(1): Three situations require Supplementary Demands:
  • (a) The amount authorised by the Appropriation Act is found to be insufficient for the current year
  • (b) A new service not contemplated in the annual Budget needs expenditure
  • (c) Supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not included in the current year's Budget
  • Process: Supplementary Demands are presented by the Finance Minister; they go through the same process as the main Budget — scrutiny by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance/departmental committees, debate, voting, and a fresh Appropriation Act
  • Vote on Account (Article 116): Allows Parliament to authorise withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund for a portion of the estimated expenditure before the main Budget is passed — essentially a "bridge financing" mechanism used when elections delay budget passage; typically covers 2 months' expenditure
  • Excess Grants (Article 115(1)(b)): Where actual expenditure exceeds the sanctioned grants — these must be regularised by Parliament through an Excess Grant motion after the year ends, based on CAG's audit report
  • Token Demand and Nominal Demand: Supplementary demands can be "nominal" (Re 1) — used when a reallocation within a voted grant requires Parliamentary approval as a matter of procedure, even if no additional funds are needed

Connection to this news: The Budget Session's simultaneous conduct of the Speaker removal debate and financial business illustrates how Parliament's most important constitutional functions (financial control, accountability) can be disrupted when procedural conflicts consume legislative time.

Parliamentary Financial Control: Consolidated Fund and CAG

Parliament's control over the Union's finances is exercised through the appropriations process, with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as the post-expenditure accountability check.

  • Article 112 (Annual Financial Statement/Budget): Statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government for each financial year — laid before both Houses
  • Article 266 (Consolidated Fund of India): All revenues received, loans raised, and money received in repayment of loans — forms the Consolidated Fund; no money can be withdrawn from it except under Parliamentary appropriation
  • Article 267 (Contingency Fund): An imprest account to meet unforeseen expenditure; advances are made on executive authority but must be subsequently regularised by Parliament
  • CAG (Article 148-151): Audits all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund; submits Audit Reports to the President, who lays them before Parliament; the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) scrutinises CAG reports
  • PAC (Public Accounts Committee): A parliamentary committee (22 members — 15 from LS, 7 from RS) that examines accounts and audit reports; chaired by an Opposition MP by convention — a safeguard of bipartisan financial oversight

Connection to this news: Even as the Speaker removal debate occupied floor time in March 2026, the Budget Session's core constitutional obligation — passing Supplementary Demands and Appropriation Bills — proceeded, illustrating Parliament's ability to discharge financial duties despite political turbulence.

Key Facts & Data

  • Article 115: Supplementary Demands for Grants — three situations triggering additional Parliamentary appropriation
  • Article 116: Vote on Account — covers 2 months' expenditure pending Budget passage; used in election years
  • Article 115(1)(b): Excess Grants — past over-expenditure regularised post-audit by Parliament
  • Budget Session 2026: First half (January-May); Speaker removal debate took place March 10-11, 2026
  • Article 266: Consolidated Fund of India — only Parliament can authorise withdrawals
  • Article 267: Contingency Fund — executive advances, subsequently regularised by Parliament
  • CAG Article 148-151: Independent constitutional authority; reports to President via Parliament
  • PAC: 22 members (15 LS + 7 RS); chaired by Opposition MP by convention
  • Deputy Speaker vacancy at time of debate: 12+ years (since 2014)