Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India:

Question

Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India:

1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House.

2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer.

3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

1. A. All the three statements are correct.
2. B. There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
3. C. There is only one correct statement. (Correct answer)
4. D. There is no correct statement.

Correct Answer

Option C — C

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Option C.

Key Points

• there is only one correct statement.
• Statement 3 is correct: no supplementary questions can be asked on an unstarred question, because it receives only a written answer laid on the table (no oral discussion).
• Statement 1 is incorrect: it inverts the definition — an unstarred question is one to which a Member desires a WRITTEN answer (not oral).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: a starred question is one to which a Member desires an ORAL answer (not written), and supplementaries may follow.
• So only statement 3 holds — one correct statement.
• the four types of parliamentary questions are Starred (oral + supplementaries), Unstarred (written), Short-Notice (urgent, oral) and Questions to Private Members.

Exam Tip

• fix it as Starred = Spoken (oral), Unstarred = Unspoken (written) — the first letters help you avoid the inversion.