How to study Parliamentary Proceedings

The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is termed as Question hour.

It is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of the House.

During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers.

The questions can also be asked to the private members (MPs who are not ministers).

Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session.

But there are two days when an exception is made:

• There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall.

• Question Hour is not scheduled on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.

The questions are of three kinds, namely, starred, unstarred and short notice.

• A starred question (distinguished by an asterisk) requires an oral answer and hence supplementary questions can follow.

• An unstarred question, on the other hand, requires a written answer and hence, supplementary questions cannot follow.

• A short notice question is one that is asked by giving a notice of less than ten days. It is answered orally.