Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings

(How Parliament questions, criticises, controls and corrects the Government)

Question Hour

— “The Hour of Accountability”

🕐 Time: First hour of every parliamentary sitting.
🎯 Purpose: To obtain information and hold ministers accountable.

Types of Questions

Type	Mark	Answer Mode	Supplementary Qs?	Colour Code
Starred	★	Oral	✅ Yes	Green
Unstarred	—	Written	❌ No	White
Short-Notice	—	Oral; notice < 10 days	✅ Yes	Light Pink
To Private Member	—	Written/Oral	Depends	Yellow

💡 Tip:
“Star = Speak = Supplementary = Green Light for debate.”

Even private members (non-ministers) can be questioned — if the matter relates to their bills, resolutions, or motions.

Zero Hour

— “India’s Own Innovation”

🕛 Time: Immediately after Question Hour and before the day’s agenda.
🪶 Origin: Indian invention (1962), not in rules — purely convention-based.
🎯 Purpose: To raise matters of urgent public importance without notice.

💡 Mnemonic:
“Question Hour = Ask the Government,
Zero Hour = Blast the Government (spontaneous grievances) 😄.”

Motions

— “Parliament Speaks Through Motions”

A motion is a proposal placed before the House for its opinion or decision.
No discussion on public matters can occur without an approved motion.

Types of Motions

Type	Essence	Example
Substantive Motion	Independent & self-contained; deals with major issues.	Impeachment of President; Removal of CEC.
Substitute Motion	Alternative to an existing motion; if adopted, replaces it.	Amending a government motion.
Subsidiary Motion	Supports or affects another motion; cannot stand alone.	Includes Ancillary, Superseding, and Amendment.

Subsidiary Sub-Types:

• Ancillary: Routine procedural steps (e.g., motion to take bill into consideration).
• Superseding: Displaces the pending motion.
• Amendment: Modifies part of the original motion.

Closure Motion

— “End the Talk, Start the Vote”

A device to curtail debate and bring the issue to an immediate vote.

Kinds of Closure

Type	Description
Simple Closure	“Matter has been sufficiently discussed; now put to vote.”
Closure by Compartments	Bill’s clauses grouped; each part debated & voted together.
Kangaroo Closure	Only important clauses discussed; others skipped as passed.
Guillotine Closure	Remaining clauses put to vote en bloc when allotted time ends.

💡 Mnemonic: Si-Co-Ka-Gu = Simple → Compartments → Kangaroo → Guillotine.

Privilege Motion

— “Defending Parliament’s Honour”

Moved when a member believes a minister has breached parliamentary privilege,
for instance by giving false or distorted information.

🎯 Objective: Censure the minister and protect the dignity of the House.

Calling Attention Motion

— “Urgent Public Alert”

🗓️ Introduced: 1954 (Indian innovation).
📖 Mentioned in Rules of Procedure.
🎯 To draw minister’s attention to a matter of urgent public importance and seek an authoritative statement.

💡 Difference from Zero Hour → Calling Attention is rule-based, Zero Hour is convention-based.

Adjournment Motion

— “Stop Everything, Discuss This Now”

Used to suspend normal business to discuss a definite, factual, urgent, public matter.
👉 Requires support of 50 members to be admitted.
👉 Allowed only in Lok Sabha (Rajya Sabha cannot use it).
👉 Discussion lasts minimum 2 ½ hours.
👉 Carries an element of censure against the government.

Restrictions:

1. Must be definite, factual, urgent, public.
2. Must cover only one matter.
3. Must concern recent occurrence.
4. Not a question of privilege.
5. Not revive a past discussion in same session.
6. Not under court consideration.
7. Not fit for distinct motion.

💡 Analogy: Adjournment Motion = “Fire Alarm” device of Parliament.

No-Confidence Motion

— “Test of Majority”

🧭 Article 75(3): Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha.

Thus, the Lok Sabha can remove the Council of Ministers by passing a No-Confidence Motion.

✅ Needs support of 50 members for admission.
✅ If passed → Government must resign.
❌ Rajya Sabha cannot move this motion.

💡 Mnemonic: No Confidence = “Bye-bye Government 😄.”

Confidence Motion

— “Government Proves Itself”

Reverse of No-Confidence.

• Usually moved by the Prime Minister to prove majority,
  either on direction of the President or voluntarily (by coalition governments).
• If defeated → Government falls.

💡 Tip: Used in hung parliaments or minority governments (1990s era).

Censure Motion Vs No-Confidence Motion

Point	Censure Motion	No-Confidence Motion
Reason stated?	Must state specific reasons/policies.	Need not state reasons.
Against whom?	Individual minister, group, or entire CoM.	Entire Council of Ministers only.
Purpose	Express disapproval of specific acts/policies.	Test of majority of the Government.
Effect if passed	Moral rebuke – CoM need not resign.	Political defeat – CoM must resign.

💡 Analogy:
Censure = Scolding the child;
No-Confidence = Disowning the child.

Motion of Thanks

— “Parliament Replies to the President”

🗓️ Occurs in:

• First session after general elections, and
• First session of each financial year.

🎯 President’s address outlines government’s policy & programme.
Members debate it via a Motion of Thanks.

✅ Must be passed → If defeated, government loses confidence of the House.
💡 Analogy: President speaks → House responds through Motion of Thanks.

No-Day-Yet-Named Motion

A motion admitted by Speaker but no date fixed for discussion.
Later scheduled based on business load or Business Advisory Committee’s advice.

💡 Mnemonic: “Approved but Pending Date.”

Dilatory Motion

— “Delay Tactics”

Moved to postpone or delay the discussion on a bill or resolution.
Example: motion to adjourn debate or refer to committee.

If Speaker finds it abusive or obstructive, he/she can reject it immediately.

💡 Analogy: The parliamentary “snooze button.”

Point Of Order

— “Rule Check by the Opposition”

📘 Meaning:

A Point of Order is raised when a member believes that the proceedings of the House are not following proper procedure or the Constitution.

🎯 Purpose:

To ensure discipline and adherence to rules — not to debate policy or content.

🧭 Conditions:

• Must relate to interpretation or enforcement of parliamentary rules or constitutional articles regulating House business.
• Must be within the cognizance of the Speaker/Chairman.

🗣️ Who usually raises it?

Mostly the Opposition, to check the government or highlight a procedural violation.

🚫 No Debate:

No discussion is allowed; the Speaker’s decision is final and binding.

💡 Mnemonic:
“Point of Order = Pause for Procedure.”
It suspends the ongoing proceedings until the rule question is resolved.

Half-an-Hour Discussion

— “For Factual Clarifications”

🕧 Purpose:
To clarify facts or data on issues already answered but needing further elucidation.

🗓️ Frequency:
Speaker may allow up to three days a week for such discussions.

🗳️ No Formal Motion or Voting.
It’s purely informative, not a decision-making tool.

💡 Key Phrase: “Matter of sufficient public importance needing factual clarification.”

Short Duration Discussion

— “Two-Hour Focused Debate”

Also called the “Two-Hour Discussion” device.
⏱️ Time limit: Not more than two hours.

🎯 Purpose:
To discuss matters of urgent public importance — like inflation, floods, or foreign policy issues.

🗓️ Provision since: 1953.
Speaker can allow two days per week for such discussions.

🗳️ No formal motion, no voting — only discussion.

💡 Mnemonic: “Short = Two hours, No vote, Only discuss.”

Special Mention

— “For Issues Beyond Other Devices”

🪶 Meaning:

When an issue does not fit into Question Hour, Zero Hour, or any other motion,
it can still be raised as a Special Mention.

🧩 Applicable In:

• Rajya Sabha: “Special Mention.”
• Lok Sabha: “Notice (Mention) under Rule 377.”

🎯 Purpose:

To draw the attention of the House or government to a matter of public importance
without requiring debate or decision.

💡 Tip: Rule 377 = Lok Sabha’s “Special Mention equivalent.”

Resolutions

— “When Parliament Expresses Its Collective Opinion”

🧾 Definition:

A resolution is a self-contained, independent proposal —
put to the House for approval — expressing its decision, recommendation, or opinion.

💬 All resolutions are substantive motions, but not all motions are resolutions.

Objectives of a Resolution:

1. To declare an opinion or recommendation.
2. To approve or disapprove an act or policy of the government.
3. To convey a message, commend, or request action.
4. To call attention to a matter for government consideration.

Types of Resolutions

Type	Moved By	Features / Examples
1. Private Member’s Resolution	Any MP who is not a minister	Taken up only on alternate Fridays, afternoon sitting.
2. Government Resolution	Minister	Used for approving treaties, declaring policies, or committee recommendations.
3. Statutory Resolution	Minister or Private Member	Moved under provisions of Constitution or law. Example: under Section of an Act or Article 356(3) etc.

💡 Mnemonic: “Private – Policy – Provision” → Three P’s for three resolutions.

Resolution vs Motion

Point	Resolution	Motion
Nature	Always a substantive motion.	May be substantive, substitute, or subsidiary.
Vote	Always requires formal approval by House.	May or may not require voting.
Scope	Expresses House’s decision formally.	Often procedural or preliminary.

🪶 In short: “Every Resolution is a Motion — but not every Motion is a Resolution.”

Youth Parliament

— “Democracy in the Classroom”

🌱 Origin:

Based on recommendation of the 4th All India Whips Conference (1960s).

🎯 Objectives:

1. To familiarise youth with parliamentary procedures.
2. To inculcate democratic values like tolerance, discipline, and cooperation.
3. To train students in public speaking, debate, and civic participation.

⚙️ Implementation:

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs conducts and supports Youth Parliament schemes across schools, colleges, and NSS/NCC units.

💡 Purpose: To “train the future Parliamentarians of India.”

Quick Revision Chart – I

Device	Origin/Rule	Purpose	Key Feature
Question Hour	Constitutional convention (Art 85 read with Rules)	Accountability & Information	Starred/Unstarred/Short Notice
Zero Hour	Convention (1962)	Urgent issues without notice	Not in Rules
Calling Attention	Rule (1954)	Urgent matter + minister’s reply	Indian innovation
Adjournment Motion	Rule	Urgent public issue + censure	Needs 50 members (Lok Sabha only)
No-Confidence	Art 75(3)	Remove Government	Simple majority → Govt falls
Confidence Motion	Practice	Govt proves majority	Often in coalition eras
Censure Motion	Rule	Disapproval of policy	No resignation required
Motion of Thanks	Convention + Rule	Debate on President’s Address	Must be passed
Closure Motion	Rule	End debate early	Si-Co-Ka-Gu types
Privilege Motion	Rule	Protect House dignity	Against false info by minister
No-Day-Yet-Named	Rule	Pending for scheduling	—
Dilatory Motion	Rule	Delay debate	May be rejected by Speaker

Quick Revision Chart – II

Device	Purpose	Time Limit	Debate/Vote	Key Feature
Point of Order	Ensure rule compliance	Immediate	🚫 No debate	Halts proceedings temporarily
Half-an-Hour Discussion	Clarify factual answers	30 mins	🚫 No vote	For previously discussed issues
Short Duration Discussion	Urgent public issue	≤ 2 hours	🚫 No vote	2 days/week; since 1953
Special Mention	Raise unlisted issues	Flexible	🚫 No vote	Rajya Sabha; Rule 377 in Lok Sabha
Resolutions	Express formal opinion	Variable	✅ Yes	Private, Government, Statutory
Youth Parliament	Train youth in democracy	—	—	Conducted by MoPA

🧠 Exam Angles (UPSC/PCS/Polity MCQs)

• Zero Hour: Not in rules; started in 1962.
• Calling Attention Motion: In rules; started in 1954.
• Short Duration Discussion: Since 1953; no motion or vote.
• Adjournment Motion: Lok Sabha only; needs 50 members.
• Censure Motion: Needs reasons; can be against individual ministers.
• No-Confidence Motion: No reasons needed; against whole Council of Ministers.
• Rule 377: Special mention device in Lok Sabha.
• Youth Parliament: Run by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

💬 Concluding Lines:

“Parliament is like a classroom of democracy.
Question Hour is the viva, Zero Hour is the complaint box,
Motions are the assignments, and Censure or No-Confidence are the exams.
When the government passes them, democracy passes its test.”

“Parliament is not just a debating arena; it’s a school of constitutional morality.
Even when it argues, it follows rules — Points of Order for procedure, Discussions for clarity, and Youth Parliament for legacy.
These devices remind us that democracy is not chaos — it’s discipline in disagreement.”