Prime Minister of India in Kannada for UPSC | ಭಾರತದ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಮಂತ್ರಿ

Question Hour and Zero Hour in Parliament

Question Hour

• Timing: The first hour of every parliamentary sitting.
• Purpose: MPs ask questions, and ministers provide answers.

Types of Questions:

1. Starred Questions (Marked with an asterisk):

   • Requires an oral answer.
   • Allows supplementary questions (follow-up questions).
   • Printed on green paper.

2. Unstarred Questions:

   • Requires a written answer.
   • No supplementary questions allowed.
   • Printed on white paper.

3. Short Notice Questions:

   • Asked with a notice of less than 10 days.
   • Requires an oral answer.
   • Printed on light pink paper.

4. Questions to Private Members:

• Can be addressed to a private member (not a minister) if it relates to:
  • A bill or resolution introduced by that member.
  • Any business they are responsible for.
• Procedure is the same as questions addressed to ministers.
• Printed on yellow paper.

A private member in the context of Parliament refers to any Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a minister. This means:

1. Definition:

   • Private Members: MPs who do not hold any official position in the government (e.g., not part of the Council of Ministers).
   • Ministers: MPs who are part of the executive, i.e., members of the government responsible for portfolios like Finance, Defence, etc.

2. Role of Private Members:

   • Introduce Bills: Private members can propose Private Member Bills to address issues they believe are important but are not being tackled by the government.
   • Raise Questions: During Question Hour, MPs can ask questions to other private members if the subject relates to a bill, resolution, or issue introduced by that private member.
   • Participate in debates, discussions, and other parliamentary activities.

3. Distinction:

   • While ministers represent the government, private members represent the legislative role of Parliament, ensuring issues beyond the government’s agenda are addressed.

Example:
If an MP from the ruling or opposition party does not hold a ministerial portfolio, they are considered a private member.

Zero Hour

• Timing: Starts immediately after Question Hour and lasts until the House begins its regular agenda.
• Purpose: Allows MPs to raise urgent matters without giving prior notice.
• Informality:
  • Not mentioned in parliamentary rules.
  • An Indian innovation, in practice since 1962.
• Flexibility: Members can bring up issues of public interest without adhering to the formal notice period.

The agenda in the context of Parliament refers to the list of scheduled business or activities that the House plans to discuss and act upon during a session.

What Does Agenda Include?

1. Legislative Business:
   • Introduction, discussion, and voting on bills (e.g., government or private member bills).
2. Financial Business:
   • Presentation and discussion of the budget or money bills.
3. Discussion on Motions:
   • No-confidence motions, adjournment motions, or censure motions.
4. Committee Reports:
   • Presentation and discussion of reports by parliamentary committees.
5. Resolutions:
   • Matters requiring the House's approval through resolutions.
6. Debates on Public Matters:
   • Discussion on issues of national or public interest.

Relation to Zero Hour:

• The Zero Hour acts as a gap or buffer time between the Question Hour (where MPs ask questions) and the start of the agenda, allowing MPs to raise urgent, unscheduled matters.
• Once Zero Hour ends, the House moves to discuss the day's officially scheduled business (the agenda).

Key Differences Between Question Hour and Zero Hour:

Feature	Question Hour	Zero Hour
Mention in Rules	Formal and included in rules.	Informal, not in parliamentary rules.
Timing	First hour of the sitting.	After Question Hour.
Purpose	MPs question ministers or members.	Raise urgent matters.
Notice Requirement	Requires prior notice.	No prior notice needed.
Types of Questions	Starred, unstarred, short notice.	Not categorized.

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These mechanisms ensure accountability and give MPs a platform to address pressing issues in Parliament.

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