Under the Indian Constitution, for how long can the Rajya Sabha at most delay a Money Bill or Finance Bill sent to it by the Lok Sabha?

Introduction / Context:
In India's parliamentary system, the Lok Sabha has special powers over Money Bills and Finance Bills. The Rajya Sabha's role in such bills is deliberately limited to prevent financial deadlock. This question checks whether you know the maximum period for which the Rajya Sabha can delay a Finance Bill or Money Bill. Understanding this rule helps you appreciate the financial supremacy of the Lok Sabha and the balance of powers between the two Houses of Parliament.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The bill in question is a Finance Bill or Money Bill, which originates only in the Lok Sabha.
• The Rajya Sabha can discuss it and make recommendations.
• The question asks for the maximum delay the Rajya Sabha can cause.
• The options given are fourteen days, seven days, one month, and one year.
• We draw on Article 109 of the Constitution of India, which deals with Money Bills.

Concept / Approach:
Article 109 provides that a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and, after being passed there, is transmitted to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. The Rajya Sabha must return the bill with or without recommendations within a specified period. If it does not return the bill within that period, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. The crucial point is that this period is a maximum of fourteen days from the date of receipt of the bill by the Rajya Sabha.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question relates to Money Bills and Finance Bills, over which the Lok Sabha has primacy.Step 2: Recall that under Article 109, a Money Bill after passage in the Lok Sabha is sent to the Rajya Sabha for recommendations only.Step 3: Note that the Rajya Sabha has a limited time of fourteen days to return the bill with its recommendations.Step 4: If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within fourteen days, the bill is deemed to be passed in the form originally approved by the Lok Sabha.Step 5: Therefore, the maximum delay the Rajya Sabha can cause is fourteen days, after which the bill automatically moves forward.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, compare Money Bill provisions with ordinary bills. For ordinary bills, if the two Houses disagree, there can be a joint sitting under Article 108. For Money Bills, however, there is no joint sitting; instead, the Constitution limits the Rajya Sabha's role to suggestions within fourteen days. Standard polity textbooks also emphasise that the Rajya Sabha "cannot reject or amend a Money Bill; it can only delay it by at most fourteen days." This confirms that fourteen days is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Seven days: The Constitution clearly specifies fourteen days, not seven, as the outer limit for Rajya Sabha recommendations on a Money Bill.
• One month: There is no provision allowing the Rajya Sabha to hold a Money Bill for a month. This option may mislead candidates who confuse it with other parliamentary or administrative time-limits.
• One year: Such a long delay would completely undermine the Lok Sabha's financial supremacy and is not permitted in the constitutional scheme for Money Bills.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mix up the period for which a bill can remain pending in a House with the time allowed to the President for certain actions. Others confuse ordinary bills with Money Bills and think of mechanisms like joint sittings. A very common error is to remember only that the Rajya Sabha can "delay" the bill, without memorising the specific limit of fourteen days. To avoid this, associate the number fourteen with fortnightly financial deadlines and the special nature of Money Bills.

Final Answer:
The Rajya Sabha can at most delay a Money Bill or Finance Bill sent by the Lok Sabha for fourteen days.