PM ASKS TO HAVE A ‘ZERO HOUR’ IN CABINET

Subject: Polity

Context: PM told me to have ‘Zero Hour’ in Cabinet to hear negative feedback: HimantaBiswaSarma.

Concept:

Zero Hour is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary procedures and has been in existence since 1962.
Zero Hour is the time when Members of Parliament (MPs) can raise Issues of Urgent Public Importance.
For raising matters during the Zero Hour, MPs must give the notice before 10 am to the Speaker/ Chairman on the day of the sitting.
The notice must state the subject they wish to raise in the House. However, Speaker, Lok Sabha / Chairman, Rajya Sabha may allow or decline a Member to raise a matter of importance.
‘Zero Hour’ is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure. Thus, it is an informal device available to MPs to raise matters without any notice 10 days in advance.
The Zero Hour starts at 12 noon immediately following the Question Hour.