Introduction

Provisional Calendar of Sittings

Provisional Calendar of Sittings is prepared for each Session of Rajya Sabha in coordination with Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. It specifies the days on which the Government Business and Private Members' Bills/ Resolutions are to be taken up in the House besides the details of group of Ministries/Departments requiring to furnish answers to Parliamentary Questions

About Parliamentary Business

List of Business

A list of items of business scheduled to be taken up in Rajya Sabha on a particular day of the sittings in the order in which they stand on it.

Bulletins

Parliamentary Bulletin Part I is issued daily during the Session period and contains a brief record of the items taken up by the Rajya Sabha and the time. It includes a mention of (a) question number orally answered (b) papers laid on the table (c) subject of Special Mention/calling attention and names of speakers (d) Bills taken up for introduction, consideration and/or passing/return and names of speakers etc. Session-wise compilation on the Bulletins, after editing, is published as the 'Session Journal’. Details of speeches etc. are available in 'Synopsis' or in the `Verbatim Proceedings and 'Official Report'.

Papers to be Laid on the Table

As part of the mechanism to ensure accountability of Government to Parliament, copies of important documents issued by Government are circulated to Members through a formal process called 'Laying of Papers on the Table'. The Ministry concerned intimates the list of papers to be laid, (along with a copy of the documents authenticated by the Minister), which is then included in the agenda for the day. At the appointed time (generally 12 noon), the Minister rises and states that he lays the papers listed in his name on the Table. The authenticated papers are then properly indexed and kept in the Parliament Library for reference of Members. The following are some of the categories of papers which are required to be laid on the Table: a) Ordinances promulgated under Article 123 of the Constitution of India b) Statutory orders (S.O.) issued by Government under various statutes c) General Statutory Rules (GSR) framed by Government under the relevant statutes. d) Reports of Government companies. e) Reports of societies and cooperatives financed by Government institutions f) Reports of Joint ventures with State Governments g) MOU between Government and PSUs etc

Synopsis of Debates

The Synopsis contains a brief record of speeches of Members made during Special Mention, Short Duration Discussions, discussions on Bills, Motions or Resolutions, etc. It is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of Rajya Sabha. For the full text of speeches, the Verbatim Proceedings (Uncorrected Debates) or the Official Report (Edited Debates) should be consulted.

List of Questions

Daily Questions List contains the text of each question put for oral and written answers by Ministers for a given day. Starred Questions are the questions to which answers are desired to be given orally on the floor of the House during the Question Hour. These are distinguished in the printed lists by asterisks. 15 such questions are listed each day. Unstarrred Questions are questions to which written answers are given by Ministers which are deemed to have been laid on the Table of the House at the end of the Question Hour. Upto 160 such questions are listed each day in a separate list. Short Notice Questions can be asked orally in the House after the Question Hour or as the first item in the agenda where there is no Question Hour at a notice shorter than that prescribed for Starred and Unstarred Questions. These must relate to a subject-matter considered by the Chairman to be of urgent public importance.

Sessions of the Parliament

A Session of Rajya Sabha comprises the period commencing from the date and time mentioned in the order of the President summoning Rajya Sabha and ending with the day on which the President prorogues Rajya Sabha.

Officers responsible for the supply of information

Ms. Garima Jain

Joint Secretary JS (L) & CVO

Location

Room No. RS-11 A, Ground Floor, Parliament House

Phone No.

23083055

Email

garimajain[dot]rs[at]sansad[dot]nic[dot]in

Legislative Section

Location

Room No. S-26, Second Floor, Parliament House

Phone No.

23083076, 23083077

Email

rslegis[at]sansad[dot]nic[dot]in

Note: Provisional Calendar of Sittings is prepared for each Session of Rajya Sabha in coordination with Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. It specifies the days on which the Government Business and Private Members' Bills/ Resolutions are to be taken up in the House besides the details of group of Ministries/Departments requiring to furnish answers to Parliamentary Questions. For feedback, you may contact the officers responsible for supply of the information.