A Bill introduced by a member of Parliament who is not a minister, as opposed to a government Bill introduced by a minister.
- Any member who is not a minister is a private member; the Bill expresses an individual member's legislative idea.
- It requires one month's notice and is generally discussed only on the days set aside for private members' business (commonly Fridays in the Lok Sabha).
- The introduction is permitted without the President's recommendation unless it is a Financial or Money Bill.
- Very few private members' Bills have ever become law; the most cited example is the law that became the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970, which originated as such a Bill.
- The Bill's rejection does not affect the standing of the government.
The government-Bill-versus-private-member's-Bill distinction and the rarity of the latter becoming law are standard parliamentary-procedure facts.
A private member is any MP who is not a minister, regardless of party; a government Bill is introduced by a minister. Defeat of a private member's Bill is not a vote against the government.
Bill introduced by a non-minister MP, discussed on private members' days; very few have become law.