bill

A bill is a written proposal for a new law, or for changing an existing law, that is placed before Parliament for approval.

• A bill is not yet a law. It contains the proposed rules in numbered parts called clauses, which explain exactly what the law will require, allow, or prohibit.
• Members of Parliament discuss the bill, may suggest changes, and vote on it. Detailed study by a parliamentary committee can help find practical problems or improve its wording.
• For an ordinary bill to become an Act of Parliament, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha usually need to pass it. It then goes to the President for assent, or formal approval.
• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill is a useful example. After debate and changes, it became the Right to Education Act in 2009, helping make education a legal right for children aged 6–14.
• Some bills follow special rules. A Money Bill, dealing with matters such as taxes, government spending, or borrowing, can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
• This process matters because it gives elected representatives time to examine proposed laws before they affect millions of people.