Answers to Lok Sabha questions ‘strictly confidential’ till replied: MPs reminded
Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, MPs have been reminded that the contents of written replies are "strictly confidential" till they are given by
Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, MPs have been reminded that the contents of written replies are "strictly confidential" till they are given by Ministers in the Question Hour. The Lok Sabha secretariat has also underlined that the contents of a reply made in response to a question for oral answer are "strictly confidential until it has actually been asked and answered in the House." It said unless the question is taken up for oral answer in the House, "the reply to the Question should not be released " till the conclusion of Question Hour.
A bulletin issued on Saturday (July 4, 2026) said replies to the questions included in the lists for written answers are to be treated as confidential until these replies have been laid on the Table of the House and the Question Hour is over. A reply to a question is treated as final only in the form in which it appears in the proceedings of the House, for a particular date, it noted.
There have been instances where MPs have shared answers to questions they have asked with the media even before being made public by the Parliament officials concerned. Some replies have also been shared
on social media by MPs. While the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha is held between 11 and 12 noon, it is held between 12 noon and 1 p.m. in the Rajya Sabha.
The BriefWire