What is the first hour of the parliamentary meeting in the following?

The correct answer is Question time.

Key Points

• Question Time is the first hour of a parliamentary sitting in India.
• It is a crucial part of parliamentary proceedings where members of parliament (MPs) ask questions to the government ministers.
• The questions can be about any aspect of administrative activity.
• It is an important mechanism for ensuring accountability of the executive to the legislature.
• During Question Time, MPs can ask both oral and written questions.
• Oral questions are answered on the floor of the House, while written questions receive written replies.

Additional Information

• Zero Hour
  • It is an Indian parliamentary innovation and starts immediately after the Question Time.
  • During Zero Hour, MPs can raise issues of urgent public importance without any prior notice.
  • It is not mentioned in the parliamentary rules but has become an established convention.
• Half-an-Hour Discussion
  • It is meant for discussing matters of sufficient public importance which have been subject to a lot of debate and the answer to which needs further elucidation on a matter of fact.
  • This discussion is taken up in the last half hour of a sitting.
• Short Duration Discussion
  • It is also known as 'Calling Attention' and allows MPs to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance.
  • It does not have a fixed time limit and can be extended with the permission of the presiding officer.