Question Hour in Parliament is a designated period in parliamentary sessions where Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions of the government. They can seek clarifications and information on various matters of public interest. It is an important parliamentary procedure for government accountability and transparency.

As an aspiring civil servant, it is important to understand the significance of the parliamentary affairs of India. This topic is part polity section of GS paper 1 of prelims and GS paper 2 of mains. 

This article aims to provide an in-depth overview of Question Hour in Parliament for UPSC aspirants. 

What is Question Hour in Parliament?

Question Hour is the first Hour of every sitting of the Parliament. During this Hour Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions to Ministers on matters related to their ministries. The purpose of Question Hour is to elicit information from the government on various issues. Another purpose is to provide an opportunity for MPs to scrutinize the actions of the government. Usually, Question Hour timing in Parliament is from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM during Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions.

The Indian Constitution provides for the Question Hour as a fundamental part of the parliamentary proceedings. According to Article 113 of the Constitution, both Houses of Parliament shall have the power to make rules for regulating their procedure and the conduct of their business. In accordance with this provision, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha provide for the conduct of Question Hour.

The Rules provide that the Question Hour shall be held at the commencement of every sitting of the House, which means the first Hour of the sitting. During this Hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions of Ministers relating to the administrative responsibilities of their respective ministries. The questions can be asked by MPs orally or in writing, and the Ministers are required to provide replies.

Read more on How a bill is passed in the Indian parliament!

Types of Questions in Question Hour in Parliament

During the Question Hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions of Ministers relating to the administrative responsibilities of their respective ministries. The Constitution provides for three types of questions that can be asked during the Question Hour. These are:

Starred Question

These are questions for which an oral answer is expected, and the member asking the question is required to be present in the House to ask supplementary questions. 

• Such questions are marked with an asterisk (*). The number of starred questions that can be asked during the Question Hour is limited, and MPs have to submit their questions well in advance to the Secretary-General of the House. 
• The Minister is required to provide a brief answer to the question, and if the MP is not satisfied with the answer, he or she can ask a supplementary question. 
• The time limit for a starred question and the subsequent supplementary questions is 20 minutes.

Unstarred Question

These are questions for which a written answer is provided. 

• No supplementary questions can be asked on these questions. 
• The MPs have to submit the unstarred questions to the Secretary-General of the House at least ten days in advance. 
• The Ministers are required to provide written replies to these questions.

Short Notice Question

These are questions that are asked without prior notice of ten days. 

• These questions are also marked with an asterisk and require oral answers. 
• MPs can ask short-notice questions with the permission of the Speaker or the Chairman of the House. 
• The time limit for answering short-notice questions is 30 minutes.

The types of questions in Question Hour allow MPs to seek information from Ministers on a wide range of issues related to the functioning of the government. These questions help in holding the government accountable for its policies and actions and in maintaining transparency in the functioning of the government.

• The Rules also provide for a time limit for asking questions and for answering them. 
• MPs can ask a maximum of three questions during the Question Hour. 
• The Minister is required to provide a brief answer to the question, and if the MP is not satisfied with the answer, he or she can ask a supplementary question.
• In case a Minister is unable to answer the question at the time of the Question Hour, the Minister is required to provide a written reply to the question within a specified time period. 
• The written reply is recorded in the proceedings of the House.

Read more on the Parliamentary System!

Importance of Question Hour in Parliament

Question Hour holds significant importance in parliamentary democracy. 

• It allows MPs to directly question ministers.
• It holds the government accountable, scrutinizes its policies and actions, and seeks information on matters of national importance. 
• It fosters transparency, ensures executive accountability, and provides a platform for MPs to represent their constituents effectively.

Read more on the Types of majorities in the Indian parliament article 249!

Difference Between Question Hour and Zero Hour in Parliament

Here is a tabular comparison of the difference between Question Hour and Zero Hour in Parliament:

Read more on the Parliamentary Committees!

Testbook provides comprehensive notes for different competitive examinations. It has always assured the quality of its product, like content pages, live tests, GK and current affairs, mocks, and so on. Ace your preparation with the Testbook App! Register for UPSC Online Classes at an affordable price through the UPSC CSE Coaching platform to boost your IAS preparation.