PMF IAS Comprehensive Test Series For UPSC Civil Services Prelims ()
  • Context (IE): The Delhi Assembly has not had a single Question Hour this year.

About Question Hour

  • It is a one-hour time period provided to MPs to ask questions to the minister and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries.
  • When in session, Lok Sabha generally starts with Question Hour.
    • In Rajya Sabha it is held from 11 am to 12 noon (since 2014).
  • Prior to Independence, the first question asked of government was in 1893.
  • MPs can submit their question notices in two ways:
    1. Through online ‘Member’s Portal,’ using their ID and password.
    2. Fill out printed forms obtainable from the Parliamentary Notice Office.
  • Presiding officers of the two houses are the final authority with respect to the conduct of Question Hour.
  • There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall & on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.

Question Hour

Procedure for Raising Questions

  • It is governed by:
    • Rules 32 to 54 of the “Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in LS
    • Directions 10 to 18 of the “Directions by the Speaker, LS
  • To ask a question, an MP has to give a notice to the Secretary-General of LS.
  • Usually questions must usually be notified at least 15 days in advance.
  • A Member can submit up to 5 question notices, including oral and written answers, for any given day.
  • If there are more than 5 notices, the extras are considered for the following day(s) during the same session for that Minister.
  • The Speaker examines the notices of the questions and determines whether a question is admissible.

Different Types of Questions

  • There are four different types of questions:
    1. Starred
    2. Unstarred
    3. Short-notice questions
    4. Questions addressed to private Members.

Starred Questions

  • A starred question is asked by an MP and answered orally by the Minister-in-charge.
  • Each MP is allowed to ask one starred question per day.
  • Starred questions must be submitted at least 15 days in advance, and only 20 questions can be listed for oral answers daily.
  • When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon.

Unstarred Question

  • An unstarred question receives a written reply from the Ministry.
  • These also need to be submitted at least 15 days in advance.
  • Only 230 questions can be listed for written answers in a day.
  • Unlike starred questions, unstarred questions don’t permit any follow-up questions.

Short Notice Questions

  • Short notice questions are ones pertaining to a matter of urgent public importance.
  • They can be asked with less than ten days’ notice, with reasons for the short notice.
  • Like a starred question, they are answered orally, followed by supplementary questions.

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