Timings followed in Indian Parliament

Time of Sittings of Lok Sabha

• When in session, Lok Sabha holds its sittings usually from
• 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. and
• 2 P.M. to 6 P.M.
• On some days the sittings are continuously held without observing lunch break and are also extended beyond 6 P.M. depending upon the business before the House.
• Lok Sabha does not ordinarily sit on Saturdays and Sundays and other closed holidays. 

Commencement of a Sittings of LokSabha

• Marshal of the House after ascertaining that 55 members are present in the House which number including the Speaker is required to form quorum, then sitting is proceeded.
• After Speaker assuming seat the business of the House starts. 
• The first hour of every sitting of Lok Sabha is called the Question hour.

Business after Question Hour

• After the Question Hour, the House takes up miscellaneous items of work before proceeding to the main business of the day. These may consist of one or more of the following:- 
• Adjournment Motions,
• Questions involving breaches of Privileges,
• Papers to be laid on the Table,
• Communication of any messages from Rajya Sabha,
• Intimations regarding President's assent to Bills,
• Calling Attention Notices,
• Matters under Rule 377,
• Presentation of Reports of Parliamentary Committee,
• Presentation of Petitions, - miscellaneous statements by Ministers, Motions regarding elections to Committees,
• Bills to be withdrawn or introduced.  

Main Business

• Legislative Business

Legislative proposals in the form of a Bill can be brought forward either by a Minister or by a private member. In the former case it is known as Government Bill and in the latter case it is known as a Private Members' Bill. Every Bill passes through three stages - called three readings - before it is passed. To become law it must be passed by both the Houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, an then assented to by the President. 

• Financial Business

The presentation of the annual Budgets - General and Railways - their discussion and voting on the various demands for grants followed by passing of Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill, which is long drawn process, take up a major part of the time of the House during its Budget Session every year. 

• Motions and Resolutions

Among the other kinds of business which come up before the House are resolutions and motions. Resolutions and motions may be brought forward by Government or by private members. Government may move a resolution or a motion for obtaining the sanction to a scheme or opinion of the House on an important matter of policy or on a grave situation. Similarly, a private member may move a resolution or motion in order to draw the attention of the House and of the Government to a particular problem. 

The last Two and Half hours of sitting on every Friday are generally allotted for transaction of private members' business. While private members' bills are taken up on one Friday, private members' resolutions are taken up on the succeeding Friday, and so on. 

Discussion on Matters of Urgent Public Importance

• Members may raise discussions on matters of urgent public importance with the permission of the Speaker.
• Such discussions may take place on two days in a week. 
• No formal motion is moved in the House nor is there any voting on such a discussion. 

Debate in the House 

• After the member who initiates discussion on an item of business has spoken, other members can speak on that item of business in such order as the Speaker may call upon them. 
• Only one member can speak at a time and all speeches are directed to the Chair.

Publication of Debates 

• Three versions of Lok Sabha Debates are prepared viz.,
• the Hindi version,
• the English version and
• the Original version. Only the Hindi and English versions are printed.
• The Original version, in cyclostyled form, is kept in the Parliament Library for record and reference.