Question

What is ‘Zero Hour?’
(A) When the proposals of the opposition are considered.
(B) When the matters of utmost importance are raised.
(C) When a money bill is introduced in the Lok sabha.
(D) Interval between the morning and the evening session.

Answer 1

Hint: A Zero hour is the period when Members of Parliament (MPs) ask questions of utmost public importance to the ministers and they are responsible to give the answers. It is during this one hour that MPs ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their respective ministries.

Complete answer: Did you know that Zero Hour is an Indian parliamentary innovation and has been in existence since 1962. It is not mentioned within the parliamentary book. Under this, MPs can raise matters without any prior notice. So, matters of utmost public importance are raised during this Zero hour. The hour starts immediately after the question hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is over. Well, this is an informal service available to members of parliament to raise matters without any ten days prior notice as required during Question hour. This is because public matters cannot wait for 10 days.

Additional Information The difference between question hour and zero hour is that Question Hour is the first hour of a Lok Sabha session where the members can ask questions to the concerned member of parliament (MPs). Whereas Zero Hour is the session that is held after the Question Hour. While the Question Hour is mentioned in the rules of parliamentary procedure, the Zero Hour is not mentioned. A member has to give advance notice of ten days for a question to be asked in the Question Hour. Whereas during Zero Hour, members may raise any kind of question without any permission or prior notice which is of utmost public importance.

So, the correct answer is an option (B): Zero Hour is the time when the matters of utmost importance are raised.

Note:The Zero Hour concept has gained popularity because of the freedom that it gives to any Member of Parliament (MPs) to ask questions and seek immediate answers from respective ministers.