What is the maximum period within which the Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha?

Explanation

Article 109 sets a special procedure for Money Bills: once the Lok Sabha has passed a Money Bill, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha only for recommendations. The Rajya Sabha has fourteen days from the date it receives the Bill to return it to the Lok Sabha with those recommendations. The Lok Sabha may accept or reject any of them, so the upper House cannot block or indefinitely delay a Money Bill. If the Rajya Sabha does not return the Bill within the fourteen-day period, the Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the same form in which the Lok Sabha passed it.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Thirty days is not the Article 109 timeline for returning a Money Bill; the given constitutional context associates it with amendment bills referred to state legislatures.
• (C) Seven days is shorter than the period prescribed by Article 109 for the Rajya Sabha to return a Money Bill.
• (D) Twenty-one days is not the Money Bill return period under Article 109, which fixes the limit at fourteen days.

Concept

This tests Parliament's financial legislative procedure, especially the limited role of the Rajya Sabha in Money Bills. It recurs in RAS because Money Bills, Lok Sabha primacy, and bicameral checks are standard constitutional-polity themes.

Source

• Legislative Department, Government of India

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