Question

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 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

1. What is a ‘Session’ of Parliament?
2. What do you understand by Question Hour?
3. Write short notes on the types of questions that are put up in Parliament.

Answer 1

1. A session of Parliament is the period spanning between the first sitting of a House and its prorogation (or dissolution in the case of the Lok Sabha). By constitutional mandate, the maximum gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months, meaning Parliament must meet at least twice a year. Typically, India’s Parliament meets for three sessions annually: the Budget Session, the Monsoon Session, and the Winter Session.
2. Question Hour is the first hour of every parliamentary sitting dedicated entirely to questioning the executive branch. During this 60-minute window, Members of Parliament (MPs) ask questions to hold Union Ministers accountable for the policies, administration, and functioning of their respective ministries. It is a vital mechanism for parliamentary oversight and transparency.
3. There are three main types of questions asked during Question Hour:
   • Starred Questions: These require an oral answer on the floor of the House. They are distinguished by an asterisk mark, and members are permitted to ask follow-up (supplementary) questions after the minister's response.
   • Unstarred Questions: These require a written reply from the minister, which is printed and laid on the table of the House. Because the reply is in writing, no follow-up or supplementary questions can be asked.
   • Short Notice Questions: These are urgent questions related to matters of immediate public importance. They can be asked with a notice period shorter than the standard ten days and receive oral answers.