Under the Constitution of India, who has the final authority to decide whether a particular Bill in Parliament is a Money Bill or not?

Introduction / Context:
In the Indian parliamentary system, certain Bills are classified as Money Bills, which deal only with specific financial matters listed in the Constitution, such as taxation, borrowing and expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India. Money Bills follow a special procedure and the Rajya Sabha has limited powers over them. Therefore, it is crucial to know who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill. This question tests your understanding of the constitutional authority that makes this decision.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question concerns the classification of a Bill as a Money Bill in Parliament.
• Money Bills have a special procedure where the Lok Sabha has more power than the Rajya Sabha.
• The options list the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister, the President and the Finance Minister.
• We assume familiarity with Article 110 of the Constitution, which defines Money Bills.

Concept / Approach:
Article 110 of the Constitution of India defines a Money Bill and lists the matters it can contain. The same article states that if any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha shall be final. This means that the Speaker is the constitutional authority who certifies a Bill as a Money Bill, and that decision cannot be challenged in either House. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Finance Minister nor the President has this specific final authority. Therefore, the correct answer is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a Money Bill is defined under Article 110 of the Constitution of India. Step 2: Note that the article lists specific topics like taxation, borrowing and expenditure that can be included in a Money Bill. Step 3: The article further provides that if any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill, the decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is final. Step 4: The Prime Minister and Finance Minister are important members of the executive but do not have constitutional authority to decide the classification of a Bill. Step 5: The President gives assent to Bills but does not decide their classification as Money Bills; the certification comes from the Speaker before the Bill is passed. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by reviewing the standard explanation of Money Bills in polity reference books. They consistently highlight that the Speaker certification is conclusive on the question of whether a Bill is a Money Bill. Current affairs reports on controversial Money Bills also refer to the Speaker role in certifying them. Some court judgments have discussed the scope of review but still recognise that Article 110 gives the Speaker a central and final role. These references confirm that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the authority named in the Constitution for this purpose.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because the Prime Minister heads the government but does not have the constitutional power to certify a Bill as a Money Bill.

Option C is wrong because the President assents to Bills after they have been passed by Parliament; the classification as a Money Bill is not decided at this stage.

Option D is wrong because the Finance Minister may pilot financial Bills and present the budget but does not have formal authority to declare a Bill a Money Bill.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that because the Finance Minister handles finance related matters, that minister must decide on Money Bills. Another error is to think that the President, as the head of state, controls all constitutional classifications. To avoid these mistakes, remember that this is a procedural question within the Lok Sabha and therefore falls under the Speaker jurisdiction. The Constitution clearly assigns this power to the Speaker, so you should link Money Bill certification directly with the Speaker in your exam preparation.

Final Answer:
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha