Lok Sabha Secretariat Issues Fresh Guidelines for Ministries on Handling Parliament Questions Ahead of Monsoon Session

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued a comprehensive Office Memorandum outlining revised guidelines and procedures that all Ministries and Departments of the Government of India must follow while processing and replying to Parliament Questions during the upcoming 8th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha. The instructions are aimed at ensuring timely submission of factual information, improving the quality of replies, and streamlining coordination between Ministries and the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The Office Memorandum, dated 13 July 2026, states that the 8th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence on 20 July 2026 and is likely to conclude on 13 August 2026.

Ministries Asked to Submit Factual Notes Within Prescribed Timelines

The Secretariat has reiterated that Ministries and Departments must furnish factual notes related to referred questions through email within the stipulated time. Failure to provide factual inputs within the prescribed deadline could result in the Lok Sabha Secretariat taking decisions on the admissibility of questions based on available information.

The communication also stresses that all correspondence relating to factual information should be acknowledged promptly.

Advance Copies of Questions to Facilitate Preparation

To help Ministries prepare comprehensive replies, advance copies of provisionally admitted questions will continue to be shared electronically. Ministries are expected to immediately examine these notices and report any issues such as:

• Questions outside their administrative jurisdiction
• Matters pending before courts
• Questions lacking factual basis
• Cases where another Ministry is primarily responsible

Such observations must generally be communicated within 24 hours of receiving the advance notice, failing which changes to admissibility may not be considered.

Clear Procedure for Transfer of Questions

The Secretariat has laid down strict timelines for transferring questions between Ministries.

If a question pertains to another Ministry, the receiving Ministry must obtain acceptance from the concerned Ministry and ensure that intimation reaches the Lok Sabha Secretariat at least 10 days before the scheduled date of answer. Requests received after the deadline will not be entertained.

The memorandum also clarifies that Members of Parliament have the exclusive prerogative to designate the Minister who will answer a question, and Ministries should not return notices directly to the Secretariat merely because they believe another Ministry is responsible.

Detailed Instructions for Preparing Replies

The guidelines place considerable emphasis on improving the quality and completeness of replies furnished to Parliament.

Ministries have been instructed to:

• Provide separate replies to each part of a question.
• Ensure replies are neat, clear and legible.
• Include supporting references wherever statements are made.
• Prepare replies based on the actual text appearing in the Question List rather than relying solely on the index.

The Secretariat has also advised Ministries to avoid referring Members to departmental websites for information, particularly in replies to Starred Questions, since this could limit Members’ ability to ask meaningful supplementary questions during Question Hour.

Assurances in Starred Questions Discouraged

The Office Memorandum reiterates the long-standing convention that Ministries should generally avoid giving assurances in replies to Starred Questions.

Where a Ministry believes that answering a question would inevitably amount to giving an assurance, it should immediately bring the matter to the notice of the concerned Joint Secretary or Director in charge of the Question Branch for appropriate consideration.

Hard Copies and Online Upload of Replies

The Secretariat has prescribed detailed formatting standards for hard copies of replies, including:

• Use of A4-size paper
• Clear and legible printing
• Hindi and English versions printed back-to-back
• Font size 12 with double spacing

Replies must be supplied by 3:00 PM on the working day preceding the scheduled date of answer.

The required number of copies is:

• 182 copies for Starred and Short Notice Questions
• 75 copies for Unstarred Questions

In addition, Ministries are required to upload replies through the Lok Sabha Question Answer Publishing Portal by the same deadline. Replies to Unstarred Questions will be published on the Lok Sabha website after Question Hour.

Ministers Required to Correct Incorrect Replies

The guidelines also remind Ministries that whenever any inaccuracy is discovered in information already furnished to Parliament, the concerned Minister is required to make a formal statement in the House correcting the reply.

Only the corrected version of the reply should subsequently appear on the official website, with suitable indication that it is a corrected version.

Updated Contact Details to Be Submitted Before Every Session

To improve coordination during Parliament sessions, Ministries have been directed to furnish updated contact details of Ministers, Secretaries, Parliamentary Officers and other nodal officials before the commencement of each session.

The Secretariat noted that delays in providing updated contact information have caused avoidable inconvenience in coordinating parliamentary business in previous sessions.

Objective of the New Guidelines

The latest instructions are intended to ensure that Parliament Questions are processed efficiently, replies are accurate and comprehensive, and coordination between Ministries and the Lok Sabha Secretariat remains seamless during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The detailed procedural framework is expected to help Ministries adhere to strict timelines while maintaining the quality and reliability of information placed before Parliament.

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