Emolument

noun (countable, usually plural: emoluments)

/ɪˈmɒljʊmənt/

The salary, fees, perquisites, or other financial benefits arising from employment or office. In the Indian Constitution, the emoluments of constitutional functionaries — including the President (Article 59), Governors (Article 158), Supreme Court judges (Article 125), and Election Commissioners — are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the State, making them non-votable to insulate them from legislative pressure.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Article 125 provides that the salary and other emoluments of Supreme Court judges shall be determined by Parliament by law, and until so determined, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule, ensuring judicial financial security.

Synonyms

salaryremunerationcompensationpayperquisitesrecompense

Antonyms

expenseslevychargepenalty

🌱 Word Family

emolumentary (rare adjective), remuneration (cognate concept noun), molest (distant cognate)

🔡 Root

Latin emolumentum (gain, advantage) ← emolere (to grind out) ← ex- (out) + molere (to grind)

📜 Etymology

From Latin emolumentum, originally the miller's fee (paid in meal ground out), derived from emolere (to grind out). The metaphor of grinding out a benefit generalised to any profit from labour or office. Entered English in the 15th century through legal and ecclesiastical usage.

🧠 Memory Hook

EMOLUMENT = E-MOLUMENT: imagine a miller grinding (MOLE = grind, as in molecular grinding) — the grain he grinds out is his fee. Your emolument is what you grind out (earn) from your work.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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