Starred Questions Explained

In parliamentary procedures, questions are a vital tool for members of the legislature to seek information from the government and hold it accountable. These questions typically fall into different categories based on how they are answered and the notice period required.

Identifying Oral Answer Questions with Asterisks

The question specifically asks for a type of question that meets two criteria:

• It requires an oral answer from the concerned minister in the House.
• It is distinguished by an asterisk mark ($*$) next to it.

This specific combination of features defines a Starred Question. When a Member of Parliament (MP) marks their question with an asterisk, they are indicating their intention to ask it orally during the designated Question Hour. The minister or their representative is expected to provide a verbal response.

Contrast with Unstarred Questions

For clarity, let's consider the alternative:

• Unstarred Questions: These questions also require information from the government but are intended for a written answer. They are not marked with an asterisk and are not asked orally in the House. The written answer is subsequently laid on the table of the House.

Other Question Types

While "Short notice questions" also typically receive oral answers and relate to urgent matters, the defining characteristic mentioned in the question is the asterisk mark, which is the unique identifier for a 'Starred Question'. "Long notice" is not a standard classification based on the question's format (asterisk/oral answer).

Conclusion

Therefore, a question requiring an oral answer and marked with an asterisk is known as a Starred Question.