Appropriation

noun

/əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/

The act of setting aside money by formal legislative authority for a specific public purpose — in the budget context, the Appropriation Bill authorises the government to withdraw sums from the Consolidated Fund of India for the expenditure approved by Parliament through the Demands for Grants.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Parliamentary control over the public purse is exercised most decisively through the Appropriation Bill, whereby the legislature converts approved demands for grants into a lawful appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund, ensuring that not a rupee is spent without sanction.

Synonyms

expropriationseizureallocationassignmentrequisitionannexation

Antonyms

restitutionsurrenderrelinquishmentrestoration

🌱 Word Family

appropriate (v/adj), appropriated (adj), appropriating (v pres.p), appropriations (n pl), misappropriation (n)

🔡 Root

Latin ad- (to) + proprius (one's own) → appropriāre (to make one's own) → appropriātiō.

📜 Etymology

From Latin appropriātiō, from appropriāre ("to make one's own"), from ad- ("to") + proprius ("one's own, proper").

🧠 Memory Hook

Root proprius = "one's own" (cf. property, proper): to ap-PROPRI-ate is to make something your own — and an Appropriation Bill makes the public money the government's to spend.

💰 Indian Economy 📖 Seen in: Union Budget & Disinvestment — Budget ...

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