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Vote on Account

Understanding what is Vote on the account and the role of Vote on account while presenting the budget is essential to know how the ruling government spends funds during its last year.

Government, towards the end of the fiscal year or the end of their term, always needs some funds to expand in various vital areas, which cannot wait until the formation of the next government is the definition of what is Vote on the account. To provide various essential facilities, the government may take a formality type permission from the Lok Sabha to expend the funds from the consolidated funds of India for two months( or in some exceptional cases, it gets to four). The passing of a good bill will take time, so the Vote on account is done through an interim budget to extend that time until the formation of a new government.

Summary of Vote on Account

Vote on the account is a formality done by the ruling government by taking permission of the Lok sabha to spend some funds from the consolidated funds to fulfil the essential need of the citizens. It is practised by the government of India when the ruling government does not have time to pass a whole budget. Many financial experts state that the meaning of Vote on the account is based on the formality and is important for the smooth working of the schemes and subsidies provided to the citizen while the new government comes and presents its budget.

Summary of Interim Budget

The interim budget is presented in the Lok sabha when the current ruling government has almost no time or significantly less time to present a full-fledged budget. With the interim budget passed in the Lok sabha and implemented as the bill, the ruling government will have control over it until the end of the fiscal year, not the outgoing government. However, under the supervision of the election commission, there is no influence on the citizen votes.

The definition of Vote on the account is incomplete without an interim budget because a Vote of account cannot be presented alone in the Lok sabha, but an interim budget or the whole budget will be used to present the Vote on account to the Lok sabha. 

Role of Vote on account in interim or full Union Budget

To understand the role of Vote on account while presenting the budget, it is essential first to understand what is on the account and how it relates to presenting a budget in Lok sabha. After understanding the Vote on the account and interim budget, it is easier to understand that a vote on account formality cannot proceed in the Lok sabha unless the ruling government does not present the whole budget or the interim budget. 

The role of Voting on account while presenting the budget is such that if the interim budget for the few months left for the ruling government fails to get approval and government is left with no consolidated funds to spend on the working of the essential items of the nation, then some funds from the CFI will be approved to the ruling government to expand in some of the areas they want. Providing the ruling government with some funds is essential so that the nation’s economic growth does not stop. 

Difference between the Vote on the Account and the Interim Budget

It’s important to acknowledge the difference between the Vote on the account and the interim budget to differentiate the features, facts, and rules for both of the regulations in the constitution of India. Also, it is essential to know the difference between the vote ion account and the interim budget to understand the importance of the stable growth of the countries’ per capita income and economic growth.

Most significant differences between Vote on the account and the interim budget:

  1. The interim budget is the temporary structure and bill for the whole union budget and requires debates and voting in the Parliament, whereas a Vote on the account is a legal matter to be passed by Lok sabha without debating near the end of the financial year.
  2. The interim budget, if passed, can alter and add taxes to the existing budget, whereas a Vote on the account does not hold any such power.
  3. The interim budget includes every expenditure and receipt related, whereas Vote on the account has only expenditure.

Conclusion

For the smooth running of the country and stable growth of the people of the country, the Indian constitution has provided all details, rules, and laws to do so. Whether it is a vote on account of the interim budget, the citizen’s benefit should be the foremost priority. 

Understanding the meaning of What is vote on account is as essential as understanding the role of the Vote on account while presenting the budget. If someone is rooting to study how the financials of the country work and how the government functions towards the start of the voting year and end of the financial year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

Can vote on account be increased to more than two months?

Ans: Yes, in some rare and exceptional cases, when there are more than two mon...Read full

Is presenting a Vote on account essential for the government?

Ans: No, the ruling government does not have to apply for the Vote on account ...Read full

Is the interim budget easier to pass in Lok sabha and implement?

Ans: No, it is more complicated than the whole union budget at the start of th...Read full

How does the election commission get involved in the process of interim budget?

Ans: In the interim budget, if there is any bill connected with religious valu...Read full