The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through 1. Adjournment motion 2. Questions hour 3. Supplementary questions Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Contents13
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
All three are devices through which Parliament exercises control over the Council of Ministers:
(1) Adjournment Motion:
This is a motion moved by a member to draw the attention of the House to a matter of urgent public importance.
If admitted, it leads to a debate and the regular business of the House is set aside.
It serves as a censure (criticism) of the government and allows Parliament to hold ministers accountable on urgent matters.
It is available only in Lok Sabha.
(2) Question Hour:
The first hour of every parliamentary sitting (11 AM to 12 noon) is devoted to questions.
Members ask questions to ministers about the functioning of their ministries and departments.
This is one of the most effective tools of parliamentary oversight — it forces ministers to be prepared and accountable for their department's actions.
Questions can be:
- starred (requiring oral answer with supplementary questions)
- unstarred (written answer)
- short notice questions.
(3) Supplementary Questions:
During Question Hour, after a minister answers a starred question, other members can ask follow-up (supplementary) questions on the same topic.
These are spontaneous and cannot be prepared in advance by ministers, making them a powerful tool for extracting information and holding the government accountable.
Other devices for parliamentary control include:
- no-confidence motion
- calling attention motion
- half-an-hour discussion
- zero hour.
All three listed devices are valid, so the answer is (d).
(Source: Laxmikant, Chapter on Parliamentary System)
Parliament controls the executive through multiple procedural devices - adjournment motions force debate on urgent matters, question hour compels ministers to answer daily, and supplementary questions create spontaneous accountability moments ministers cannot prepare for in advance.
The question tests whether students understand that parliamentary control operates through both formal motions (adjournment) and routine procedures (question hour with supplementaries) - not just dramatic tools like no-confidence motions.
Parliamentary Control Over Council of Ministers
Indian Polity Adjournment motion Questions hour Supplementary questions
Parliamentary Control Over Council of Ministers: Key Devices
Parliament controls Council of Ministers through Question Hour, Adjournment Motion, and Supplementary Questions
Question Hour (11 AM-12 noon) is the most effective tool of parliamentary oversight
Adjournment Motion serves as censure of government on urgent matters (Lok Sabha only)
Supplementary Questions are spontaneous follow-ups that ministers cannot prepare for
Constitutional Basis
Parliament exercises control over the Council of Ministers through various procedural devices. This control ensures ministerial accountability and reflects the principle that the executive is answerable to the legislature in our parliamentary system.
Main Control Devices
Device | Timing/Availability | Purpose | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Question Hour | 11 AM - 12 noon daily | Extract information, ensure accountability | Most effective oversight tool |
Adjournment Motion | On urgent public matters | Censure government, debate urgent issues | Lok Sabha only, sets aside regular business |
Supplementary Questions | During Question Hour | Follow-up on starred questions | Spontaneous, cannot be prepared |
Types of Parliamentary Questions
Question Type | Answer Format | Supplementary Questions | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
Starred Questions | Oral answer by minister | Yes - other members can ask follow-ups | Maximum impact, leads to debate |
Unstarred Questions | Written answer laid on table | No supplementary questions allowed | Seeking specific information |
Short Notice Questions | Oral answer on urgent matters | Yes, limited supplementaries | Matters of public importance |
Other Parliamentary Controls
No-Confidence Motion - ultimate weapon to remove government (Lok Sabha only)
Calling Attention Motion - draw attention to urgent matters without adjournment
Half-an-Hour Discussion - detailed discussion on matters arising from answers
Zero Hour - members raise matters of urgent importance (12-1 PM)
Trap: Students often think Adjournment Motion is available in both Houses - it's Lok Sabha only
Trap: Confusing Supplementary Questions with Short Notice Questions - supplementary are follow-ups during Question Hour
Trap: Thinking only No-Confidence Motion controls ministers - Question Hour is actually more effective for daily oversight
Common error: Assuming written questions allow supplementaries - only starred questions do
Question Hour in Parliament
Indian Polity Questions hour Supplementary questions
Question Hour: Parliament's Daily Oversight Tool
Question Hour runs from 11 AM to 12 noon in every parliamentary sitting
Starred questions get oral answers with supplementary questions allowed
Supplementary questions are spontaneous and test ministerial preparedness
Maximum 20 starred questions listed per day, about 4-6 actually answered
Core Mechanism
Question Hour is the first hour of every parliamentary sitting dedicated to questions from members to ministers. It's considered the most effective tool of parliamentary oversight as ministers must be prepared to answer and defend their department's actions publicly.
Question Hour Process
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Member submits question**
Must give **15 days advance notice** for starred questions`"]
s2["`**Speaker admits question**
Screening for admissibility and public importance`"]
s3["`**Question listed for day**
**20 starred questions** maximum listed per day`"]
s4["`**Minister gives oral answer**
Prepared response read in House`"]
s5["`**Supplementary questions**
Other members ask **spontaneous follow-ups**`"]
s6["`**Speaker controls discussion**
Ensures relevance and time management`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5
s5 --> s6Question Hour Statistics & Rules
Aspect | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha | Common Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
Timing | 11 AM - 12 noon | 11 AM - 12 noon | First hour of sitting |
Questions per day | 20 starred max | 20 starred max | About 4-6 actually answered |
Advance notice | 15 days | 15 days | For starred questions |
Supplementaries | Allowed after starred | Allowed after starred | No advance notice possible |
Trap: Question Hour timing is 11 AM-12 noon, not the entire morning session
Trap: Only starred questions allow supplementary questions - unstarred get only written answers
Trap: Ministers cannot prepare for supplementary questions - they're spontaneous follow-ups
Memory aid: Star questions get spotlight (oral answers), unstarred stay unspoken (written only)
Adjournment Motion
Indian Polity Adjournment motion
Adjournment Motion: Parliamentary Censure Device
Adjournment Motion is available only in Lok Sabha, not Rajya Sabha
Used to discuss matters of urgent public importance that cannot wait
Sets aside regular business of the House for urgent debate
Serves as censure of government and shows no-confidence
Purpose & Nature
Adjournment Motion allows members to set aside regular business of Lok Sabha to discuss a matter of urgent public importance. It serves as a censure of the government and forces immediate debate on critical issues that cannot wait for scheduled discussions.
Adjournment Motion Features
Aspect | Requirement | Effect |
|---|---|---|
House availability | Lok Sabha only | Rajya Sabha uses other devices |
Subject matter | Urgent public importance | Cannot wait for regular debate |
Support needed | 50 members must support | Shows serious parliamentary concern |
Speaker's role | Admits or rejects motion | Decides if matter is urgent enough |
Government response | Minister must respond | Cannot avoid accountability |
Business impact | Regular work suspended | Shows gravity of the issue |
Conditions for Admission
Matter must be of urgent public importance requiring immediate attention
Must involve government responsibility - cannot be about private matters
Should not be subjudice (pending in court) or covered by privilege
Speaker has discretion to admit or reject based on urgency and public interest
Cannot be used for matters that can wait for regular parliamentary business
Major trap: Adjournment Motion is Lok Sabha only - Rajya Sabha has no adjournment motion
Trap: Not every urgent matter qualifies - must be of public importance and involve government
Trap: Don't confuse with Adjournment sine die (indefinite adjournment) - that's different
Memory trick: Lok Sabha locks regular business for adjournment motion