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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 58

Topic: Polity and governance

Q58

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.

Solution.

Answer: (c) There is only one correct statement.

  1. Statement 1 is incorrect: a Starred Question (distinguished by an asterisk) is one to which a Member desires an oral answer on the floor of the House, whereas an Unstarred Question receives a written answer.
  2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Starred Questions are answered orally, not merely by written reply.
  3. Statement 3 is correct: because an Unstarred Question receives a written reply laid on the Table of the House rather than an oral answer, no supplementary question can be asked on it.