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How to get your MP to ask a question in Parliament Question Hour

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Tired of local issues being ignored? Learn how to draft a query, lobby your Member of Parliament, and get your concerns raised in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

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10 min read
#Parliament Question Hour#Lok Sabha Starred Question#Digital Sansad MP profile#Member of Parliament accountability#how to contact MP India#Rule 41 Lok Sabha#Unstarred question procedure#Indian Parliamentary system for youth

Your voice in the Lok Sabha

You notice that the only government hospital in your district has been running without a cardiologist for two years. Or perhaps, despite 10 crore being sanctioned for a new flyover, not a single brick has been laid. You tweet, you post on Instagram, and you sign petitions, but nothing moves. In the Indian parliamentary system, your Member of Parliament (MP) is your direct line to the Union Government. Every day Parliament is in session, the first hour is dedicated to Question Hour—a time when MPs grill Ministers on their work. You cannot walk into the Lok Sabha and ask a question yourself, but you can definitely make your MP ask it for you. This guide shows you how to navigate the bureaucracy of the 'Digital Sansad' and the Rules of Procedure to get your local issues on the national record.

What the law actually says

The right of an MP to ask questions is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha (Rules 32 to 54). While these rules describe the MP's powers, they essentially define your right as a citizen to seek accountability through your representative.

There are three main types of questions an MP can ask on your behalf:

  1. Starred Questions (Rule 36): These are the 'VVIP' questions. They are marked with an asterisk (*). The Minister must answer these orally on the floor of the House. This is crucial because it allows your MP to ask 'supplementaries'—follow-up questions that put the Minister on the spot. Only 20 Starred questions are picked per day via a ballot system.
  2. Unstarred Questions (Rule 39): These do not get oral answers. The Minister provides a written response which is laid on the Table of the House. While less dramatic, these are goldmines for data. If you need specific statistics—like the number of scholarship applications rejected in your state—this is the route. Up to 230 Unstarred questions are listed daily.
  3. Short Notice Questions (Rule 54): These relate to matters of 'urgent public importance' and can be asked with less than ten days' notice, provided the Minister agrees to answer.

For a question to be accepted (admitted) by the Speaker, it must follow Rule 41. It cannot be more than 150 words, it must relate to a single matter of fact, and it cannot ask for an opinion or a hypothetical solution. Most importantly, it must concern the Union Government's responsibilities. You cannot ask the Union Health Minister about a specific local drain (that is a State matter), but you can ask about the 'National Health Mission' funds allocated to your district.

If the information you seek is purely data-driven and doesn't require a public debate, you might find it faster to File an RTI online before approaching your MP, so you have facts ready to back your request.

Step-by-step playbook

  1. Identify and profile your MP

    Before reaching out, know who you are talking to.

    • Go to the Digital Sansad Portal and search for your constituency.
    • Check their 'Member Profile'. Look at their 'Attendance' and 'Questions Asked'. If your MP is historically active, they are more likely to take up your cause.
    • Note their party affiliation. If they are in the Opposition, they might be more eager to ask 'tough' Starred questions. If they are in the Treasury (Government) benches, they might prefer Unstarred questions to highlight the work done in the constituency.

  2. Draft the 'Perfect Question'

    MPs and their PAs (Personal Assistants) are flooded with vague requests. If you send a draft that is already 'Parliament-ready', you do 90% of their work. Follow the Rule 41 format:

    • Address it to the right Ministry: Ensure the subject (e.g., Digital India, NHAI, Railways) falls under a Union Ministry.
    • Be Specific: Instead of saying "The roads are bad," ask: "Will the Minister of Road Transport and Highways be pleased to state the total funds sanctioned for Highway X in District Y for the year 2024-25 and the reasons for the delay in completion?"
    • The 'ABCD' structure:
      • (a) Whether the Government is aware of [Issue X];
      • (b) If so, the details thereof;
      • (c) The funds allocated vs spent in the last 3 years;
      • (d) The timeline for completion.

  3. The Outreach

    Do not just tag them on X (formerly Twitter). Use a multi-channel approach:

    1. Email: Send the draft to their official email (usually [email protected]). Attach any proof, like news clippings or MGNREGA vigilance toolkit reports if the issue is about rural work fraud.
    2. Physical Letter: Speed post a printed letter to their local 'Constituency Office' and their 'Delhi Residence' (addresses are on the Digital Sansad profile).
    3. The PA Connection: Most MPs have a local 'Representative'. Find this person. They are the gatekeepers. A 5-minute meeting with the PA to explain why this question matters to local youth can move your file to the top of the pile.

  4. Timing the Submission

    Parliament doesn't meet all year. It has three sessions: Budget (Jan-April), Monsoon (July-Aug), and Winter (Nov-Dec).

    • Questions must be submitted at least 15 clear days before the date they are to be answered.
    • MPs submit their questions through an online portal. They can submit up to 10 notices for questions per day, but only 5 are considered for the ballot.
    • Ask your MP to submit your draft as a 'Notice' at least 20 days before the session begins.

  5. Tracking the Ballot

    Once the MP submits the question, it goes into a ballot (a random draw).

    • If it’s picked for the 'Starred' list, it will appear in the 'List of Questions for Oral Answers'.
    • If it’s not picked for oral answer, it might be moved to the 'Unstarred' list.
    • Check the Questions Search on the Lok Sabha website. You can search by 'Member Name' or 'Keyword'.

  6. What to do with the answer

    When the answer comes out, it is a public record.

    • If the Minister gives a timeline (e.g., "The project will be finished by March 2027"), you now have a 'Parliamentary Assurance'.
    • If the government fails to meet this, the MP can take it to the 'Committee on Government Assurances'.
    • If the answer reveals a crime or massive negligence, you might then use that data to How to file an FIR (and what to do if police refuse) if the matter involves local criminal misappropriation of funds.

    Browse all civic-action playbooks

Where it usually breaks

Even with a perfect draft, the system has filters that can stall your request. Here is how to bypass the most common roadblocks:

  1. The PA Gatekeeper: Most MPs don't check their own public emails. Their Personal Assistants (PAs) filter the noise. If your email gets no response in 7 days, your request is likely buried.

    • Workaround: Don't just email. Use the "Multi-Channel Approach." Send the draft via WhatsApp to the PA (numbers are often available on the Digital Sansad member profile or the MP’s official website) and tag the MP on X (formerly Twitter) with a screenshot of your drafted question. Public visibility makes it harder for the office to ignore a well-researched request.

  2. The "State Subject" Rejection: If you ask about local police conduct or a specific city park, the Lok Sabha Secretariat will disallow the question under Rule 41(2)(vii) because these are State subjects.

    • Workaround: Pivot to the "Union Link." Instead of asking about a local hospital's hygiene, ask about the "status of funds released under the National Health Mission (NHM) for infrastructure upgrades in [Your District]" and whether the Union Ministry has conducted a social audit of those funds.

  3. The "Vague Answer" Trap: Ministers often give "template" responses like "the information is being collected" or "the scheme is ongoing."

    • Workaround: If the answer is vague, don't stop. Reach out to your MP again and ask them to file a Half-an-Hour Discussion (Rule 55). This is a specific tool used when a previous answer needs further clarification on a matter of public importance.

  4. Ballot Luck: Even if your MP submits a 'Starred' question, it might not be picked in the random ballot for oral answers.

    • Workaround: Ask your MP to submit it as an 'Unstarred' question simultaneously. While you won't get the TV drama of a live debate, you are guaranteed a written, data-heavy response within the session, which is legally binding and can be used for further advocacy or RTI follow-ups.

Templates & scripts

Copy, fill in the [highlighted] bits, and send.

Template 1: Email to the MP/Legislative Assistant

Subject: Constituent Request: Draft Question for the upcoming Parliament Session – [District Name]

Body: Dear [MP Name] Ji,

I am a resident of [Your Area/Constituency] and a student/professional at [Your Institution].

I am writing to bring your attention to a critical issue regarding [Brief Issue: e.g., the delay in the NH-44 bypass construction]. This is a matter of significant public interest in our constituency.

I have prepared a draft question following Rule 41 of the Lok Sabha Rules to save your office time. Could you please consider submitting this as a Starred/Unstarred question for the upcoming session?

Draft Question: Will the Minister of [Ministry Name, e.g., Road Transport and Highways] be pleased to state: (a) the current status of the [Project Name] in [District]; (b) the total funds sanctioned and the amount actually spent as of August 2026; (c) the reasons for the delay in completion beyond the original 2024 deadline; and (d) the revised timeline for the project’s inauguration?

I look forward to seeing our constituency's concerns raised on the floor of the House.

Regards, [Your Name] [Your Phone Number/Voter ID Part Number (optional, to prove you are a constituent)]

Template 2: X (Twitter) Script for Tagging

"Hi @[MP_Handle], as a resident of [Constituency], I’ve emailed your office a drafted Parliament question regarding [Issue]. We need the Ministry of [Ministry Name] to clarify why [Problem]. Hoping to see this in the next Question Hour! #Sansad #DigitalSansad #[ConstituencyName]"

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does it cost money to get an MP to ask a question?

No. This is a fundamental part of an MP's job as your representative. If anyone—including an MP’s staff—asks for a "fee" or "processing charge," it is illegal. You are exercising your democratic right to seek accountability through the **Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business**.

2. How long does the process take?

Parliamentary rules require a notice period. Under **Rule 33**, an MP must give at least 15 clear days' notice for a question. If you want a question asked in the Winter Session (usually November), you should send your draft to the MP at least 3 weeks before the session begins.

3. What if my MP belongs to the Opposition?

Opposition MPs are often more effective at asking "Starred Questions" because their role is to scrutinize government gaps. However, MPs from the ruling party also ask "Unstarred Questions" to get data that helps them track project progress in their own backyard. Both are equally useful for civic action.

4. Can I ask about a private company's internal matters?

Generally, no. Under **Rule 41(2)(xxii)**, a question cannot refer to the character or conduct of any person except in their official or public capacity. You can, however, ask about a Ministry’s *regulation* or *oversight* of that company if it involves public safety or government funds.

5. Where can I find the answer once it is given?

You don't have to wait for the news. All answers are uploaded in real-time on the [Digital Sansad Question Search](https://sansad.in/ls/questions/questions-search) portal. You can search by your MP’s name, the Ministry, or specific keywords.

6. Can a Rajya Sabha MP ask questions for me too?

Yes. If your Lok Sabha MP is unresponsive, you can approach any Member of the Rajya Sabha from your state. The process is almost identical, governed by **Rules 47 to 54 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)**.

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How to get your MP to ask a question in Parliament · HowToHelp