Q. With reference to ‘Zero Hour’, consider the following statements:
1. In India, the proceedings of every parliamentary sitting generally start with Zero Hour.
2. It allows the Members of the Parliament to raise important matters without any prior notice.
3. It is nowhere mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for Question hour. Zero hour is the time gap between the question hour and the agenda. The zero hour starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up.
Statement 2 is correct: Zero Hour is an informal device available to the members of Parliament to raise matters without any prior notice.
Statement 3 is correct: Unlike the question hour, the zero hour is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure. It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962.
| Important Tips • The Presiding officers in the Parliament regulate the zero by setting rules to streamline the process. • The Difference between Zero Hour and Question Hour is the Ministers are not bound to reply in the Zero Hour. |
