Parliament does not only make laws. It also keeps a check on the government - by asking questions, raising urgent issues and, if needed, removing the government. The tools it uses for this are called parliamentary devices: Question Hour, Zero Hour and different kinds of motions. Exams often ask which motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha, what a cut motion is, and which devices are Indian innovations. This post explains them in simple words. It ends with 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- Question Hour is the first hour of a sitting; questions are starred, unstarred or short notice.
- Zero Hour starts right after Question Hour and is an Indian innovation of 1962.
- A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and needs the support of 50 members.
- A censure motion must state reasons; a no-confidence motion need not.
- Cut motions are of three kinds - policy, economy and token cuts.
1. Question Hour
The first hour of every sitting is usually Question Hour. Members ask ministers questions about their work.
| Type | Answer | Supplementary questions |
|---|---|---|
| Starred question (marked with an asterisk) | Oral | Allowed |
| Unstarred question | Written | Not allowed |
| Short notice question | Oral, asked with less than 10 days' notice on an urgent matter | Allowed |
Questions can also be asked to a private member if the matter relates to a bill or motion for which that member is responsible.
2. Zero Hour
- Zero Hour begins right after Question Hour, around 12 noon, and lasts until the regular business starts.
- Members can raise urgent issues without prior notice rules like those for questions.
- It is an Indian innovation, in use since 1962, and is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.
3. Motions about the government's survival
| Motion | Key points |
|---|---|
| No-confidence motion | Only in the Lok Sabha; needs 50 members; no reason needed; if passed, the Council of Ministers must resign |
| Censure motion | Must state reasons; can be against a minister or the whole council; if passed, the government seeks the House's confidence but need not resign |
| Confidence motion | Moved by the government to prove its majority; not in the Rules, but used in practice |
| Motion of Thanks | On the President's address (Article 87); its defeat means defeat of the government |
These come from Article 75, which makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
4. Motions on urgent matters
- Adjournment motion - draws attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance. It is allowed only in the Lok Sabha, needs 50 members, and is seen as a form of censure.
- Calling attention motion - draws a minister's attention to an urgent matter for an official statement. It is an Indian innovation since 1954.
- Short duration discussion - a discussion of about two hours on an urgent matter, in use since 1953.
- Half-an-hour discussion - to clarify facts from an answer given in Question Hour.
5. Cut motions in the budget
When the Lok Sabha votes on demands for grants, members can move cut motions to reduce a demand:
| Cut motion | Proposal | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Policy cut | Reduce the demand to ₹1 | Shows disapproval of the policy |
| Economy cut | Reduce it by a specific amount | Suggests saving money |
| Token cut | Reduce it by ₹100 | Raises a specific grievance |
If a cut motion is passed, it is treated as a lack of confidence in the government.
6. Other devices
- Point of order - raised when a member feels the House is not following its rules; the presiding officer decides.
- Privilege motion - moved when a minister or member is said to have breached the privileges of the House, for example by giving wrong facts.
- Quorum - under Article 100, a sitting needs at least one-tenth of the total members.
7. Why these devices matter
These devices keep the government answerable every day, not just at election time. Question Hour brings out facts, Zero Hour gives voice to local issues, and motions test whether the government still has the House's support. Frequent disruptions that waste Question Hour are a common concern.
8. Previous year questions
- Which hour is usually the first hour of a sitting of Parliament? – Question Hour
- Which type of question gets an oral answer? – Starred question
- Which type of question gets a written answer? – Unstarred question
- Within how many days' notice is a short notice question asked? – Less than 10 days
- Since when has Zero Hour been in use? – 1962
- Is Zero Hour mentioned in the Rules of Procedure? – No
- In which House can a no-confidence motion be moved? – Lok Sabha only
- How many members must support a no-confidence motion? – 50
- Which motion must state the reasons for its adoption? – Censure motion
- Which Article makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha? – Article 75
- Which motion is an Indian innovation since 1954? – Calling attention motion
- A policy cut reduces a demand to what amount? – ₹1
- A token cut reduces a demand by what amount? – ₹100
- Which Article deals with the quorum of Parliament? – Article 100
- What is the quorum of each House? – One-tenth of total members
9. How to revise this topic
Start with Question Hour: first hour; starred (oral, supplementaries), unstarred (written), short notice (less than 10 days).
Next, fix Zero Hour: after Question Hour, Indian innovation of 1962, not in the Rules.
Then learn the motions: no-confidence (Lok Sabha, 50 members, no reason), censure (reasons), adjournment (Lok Sabha, 50 members), calling attention (1954), Motion of Thanks (Article 87).
Finally, remember cut motions: policy ₹1, economy specific amount, token ₹100; and quorum: one-tenth under Article 100.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
What is Question Hour?
Question Hour is usually the first hour of a sitting, when members ask ministers questions. Starred questions get oral answers, unstarred get written answers, and short notice questions are urgent oral questions.
What is Zero Hour?
Zero Hour starts right after Question Hour, when members raise urgent matters. It is an Indian innovation since 1962 and is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.
What is the difference between a no-confidence motion and a censure motion?
A no-confidence motion needs no reason and, if passed, forces the Council of Ministers to resign. A censure motion must state reasons and, if passed, does not by itself force resignation.
What is a cut motion?
A cut motion is moved during voting on demands for grants to reduce a demand. A policy cut reduces it to ₹1, an economy cut by a specific amount, and a token cut by ₹100.
Can a no-confidence motion be moved in the Rajya Sabha?
No. A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha, because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
For more Polity topics in simple language, see our Parliament - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Prime Minister and Council of Ministers posts, or browse the Polity section. Preparing for a civil services exam? Start with the UPSC Civil Services guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.