Context:

In view of the pandemic and a truncated Monsoon Session, Parliament said no to Question Hour and curtailed Zero Hour.

About:

Question Hour

• Members of Parliament ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries.
• Types of Questions: There are four categories of questions that can be asked in this period — Starred questions: Starred questions require an oral answer from the minister-in-charge and must be submitted 15 days in advance.
• They require a written response and generally address concerns related to data and information, but do not allow supplementary questions. These too must be submitted 15 days in advance.
• Short notice questions: They address urgent matters that have public importance and can be submitted within less than 10 days.
• Questions to private members: They are usually related to “some Bill, Resolution or other matter connected with the business of the House for which that Member is responsible”.

Zero Hour

• While Question Hour is strictly regulated, Zero Hour is an Indian parliamentary innovation.
• The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.

Question Hour was dropped amid extraordinary circumstances

In the past, the Question Hour had been suspended during wars and the Emergency.

• India-China war of 1962: During the India-China war of 1962, Parliament’s winter session had skipped the Question Hour.
• 1971 War: During the 1971 war, too, the daily schedule was changed. From December 6 to 23 (due to Pakistani aggression), the Question Hour and Calling Attention matters were suspended,
• The Emergency (June 25, 1975 –March 21, 1977): During the Emergency, Parliament continued to function but without Question Hour in at least two sessions.
• The monsoon session of 1975 — the first after the declaration of the Emergency — didn’t have a Question Hour
• The winter session of 1976, too, didn’t have a Question Hour.
  • Several constitutional amendments were cleared hurriedly during this period.
  • One of the most significant ones was the 42nd Amendment that added the words “Socialist” and “Secular” to the Preamble to the Indian constitution.