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Lok Sabha Uses ‘Guillotine’ to Pass Demands for Grants Worth ₹53 Lakh Crore for FY 2026-27 Without Discussion

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
19 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Over ₹53 lakh croreMarch 18, 2026
Bodies:Lok SabhaBusiness Advisory Committee (BAC)Rajya Sabha
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The 'Guillotine' is a parliamentary tool invoked by the Lok Sabha Speaker to pass all pending Demands for Grants simultaneously, ensuring budget approval before the financial year deadline.

2.On March 18, 2026, the Lok Sabha applied the guillotine to pass Demands for Grants worth over ₹53 lakh crore for FY 2026-27, with only the Ministries of Agriculture and Railways being discussed.

3.This procedural mechanism is distinct from passing bills 'in din' (due to disruptions) and is followed by the introduction of the Appropriation Bill to authorize fund withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of India.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

‘Guillotine’ is a formal parliamentary procedure used to fast-track the approval of the Union Budget by voting on all pending Demands for Grants at once when time is limited. This session, the Lok Sabha used it to pass expenditures exceeding ₹53 lakh crore for 2026-27, highlighting a key mechanism in India's financial legislation process that aspirants must understand for polity and governance questions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Expenditure PassedOver ₹53 lakh crore
Date of PassageMarch 18, 2026
Ministries DiscussedAgriculture and Railways
Invoking AuthorityLok Sabha Speaker

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Expenditure Passed: Over ₹53 lakh crore
  • ›Date of Passage: March 18, 2026
  • ›Target this Data: Over ₹53 lakh crore passed on March 18, 2026.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Lok Sabha Speaker invokes the guillotine.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Guillotine is used specifically for Demands for Grants (Article 113), followed by the Appropriation Bill (Article 114).

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Who has the authority to invoke the 'guillotine' procedure in the Lok Sabha?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the 'guillotine' procedure in Parliament:

1. It is a formal process used specifically to fast-track the voting on Demands for Grants.

2. It is invoked when a discussion is not possible due to disruptions and ruckus in the House.

3. Following this process, the government introduces the Appropriation Bill to authorize fund withdrawal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the news, what was the total approximate value of the Demands for Grants passed by the Lok Sabha using the 'guillotine' on March 18, 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary constitutional purpose of the 'guillotine' procedure in the Indian Parliament?

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