Lok Sabha approved Appropriation Bill 2026

The Lok Sabha on 13 March approved the Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for the financial year 2025–26, allowing the Union Government to incur additional expenditure beyond the original Budget estimates.

Under these supplementary demands, the government has sought gross additional expenditure of over ₹2.81 lakh crore. The additional net cash outgo has primarily been proposed to meet higher spending on fertiliser subsidies, food subsidies, and Defence Services, among other expenditures.

Following the approval of the supplementary demands, the House also passed the Appropriation Bill, 2026. The bill authorises the government to withdraw certain additional sums from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet expenditure for the financial year 2025–26.

The Appropriation Act, once enacted, provides the legal authority for the government to appropriate specified amounts from the Consolidated Fund of India for designated services and expenditures.

Constitutional Provision

According to Article 114 of the Constitution of India, after the Lok Sabha votes on the Demands for Grants under Article 113 of the Constitution of India, an Appropriation Bill must be introduced. This bill provides for the appropriation from the Consolidated Fund of India of:

1. The grants voted by the Lok Sabha, and
2. The expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, within the limits presented before Parliament.

Thus, the passage of the Appropriation Bill is essential to legally authorise the government to withdraw and spend funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for approved services during the financial year.

Source: AIR