History & Civics
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
The Monsoon Session of Parliament begins next week. The dates were announced 45 days ago. Unusual. Normally, schedules for Parliament sessions are put out 18-20 days in advance…. For Narendra Modi and his team, there is no running away from answering 21 hours of questions in each House this session. A total of 42 hours. Question Hour, for 60 minutes a day, puts Union ministers in the hot seat. They are obliged to reply, either orally on the floor of the House (starred questions), or in writing (unstarred questions). On an average, nine questions are answered orally on the floor of Parliament every day, and over 400 questions receive written replies daily.
— Indian Express, July 18, 2025
(a) What is a 'Session' of Parliament?
(b) What do you understand by Question Hour?
(c) Write short notes on the types of questions that are put up in Parliament.
Answer
(a) A session is a formal period when both Houses of Parliament convene to conduct their business, which includes discussions and the passage of legislation.
(b) The first hour on every working day of the Lok Sabha is reserved for questions unless otherwise decided by the Speaker. This hour, which usually starts at 11 am, is known as the Question Hour. It is intended to keep the functioning of the government open to scrutiny by the members.
(c) There are three types of questions that are put up in Parliament:
- Starred Questions — These are questions to which a member wishes to have an oral answer on the floor of the House. Such questions are indicated by an asterisk mark. Supplementary questions may be asked after replies to such questions are given by the Ministers.
- Unstarred Questions — These are questions to which answers are given in a written form. No supplementary questions can be asked thereon.
- Short Notice Questions — These questions relate to a matter of urgent importance. Such questions are asked with a notice shorter than ten days. The Minister concerned has to be asked whether he can reply to the question at a short notice. It is for him to accept or not to accept short notice questions.
Related Questions
According to Dr Ambedkar, “Constitution can be both unitary as well as federal according to the requirements of time and circumstances. In normal times, it (the Constitution) is framed to work as a federal system. But in times of war, it is so designed as to make it work as though it were a unitary system.” In this context answer the following questions:
(a) List any three federal features of government in India.
(b) List any two conditions when the Parliament can make laws on Subjects in the State List.
(c) Write short notes on any two unitary features of the government in India.
With reference to the powers and functions of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha state the following:
(a) Any three functions to regulate proceedings of the House.
(b) Any three administrative functions.
(c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha occupies a position of great authority and responsibility. Give reasons to support this statement.
This picture is a symbol of our democratic rule. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) How does the Parliament work to ensure that the people of India make laws for themselves?
(b) How does the Parliament exercise control over the Executive?
(c) When you grow up, you will have a chance to become an MP. Would you like to be an MP in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha? Why?
Why is the Lok Sabha often referred to as the 'House of People'? What does this title reflect on its role in Indian democracy?