The Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill passed by the Lok Sabha, with or without recommendations, within:

Under Article 109, the Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha, with or without its recommendations, within 14 days from the date of receiving it.

What happens next:

• The Lok Sabha may accept or reject any or all of the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha.
• If the Lok Sabha accepts any recommendation, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses with that change.
• If the Lok Sabha rejects the recommendations, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which the Lok Sabha passed it.
• If the Rajya Sabha does not return the bill within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form passed by the Lok Sabha.

Why this rule exists:

• It prevents the Rajya Sabha from blocking or delaying money matters.
• It reflects the principle that the directly elected House should control public finance.

Limited powers of the Rajya Sabha on Money Bills:

• It cannot introduce a Money Bill.
• It cannot reject or amend a Money Bill.
• It can only recommend changes.
• There is no joint sitting in case of a Money Bill.

Assent of the President:

• After a Money Bill is passed, it is presented to the President.
• The President can either give or withhold assent, but he cannot return it to Parliament for reconsideration.

Comparison with ordinary bills:

• In the case of an ordinary bill, the Rajya Sabha can delay it for up to six months.
• After that, the President may call a joint sitting to resolve the deadlock.

Why not the other options?

• ✗7 days and 30 days are not the period laid down in the Constitution.
• ✗Six months is the period of delay after which a joint sitting may be called for an ordinary bill.