Indian Polity & Constitution20 Concepts & Facts

What Is a Calling Attention Motion? Rule 197 Parliamentary Procedure

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A Calling Attention Motion is an established parliamentary instrument that enables an elected member of Parliament to bring an urgent issue of public importance before the legislature. With the prior approval of the presiding officer, a lawmaker calls upon a concerned minister to present an authoritative official statement regarding a pressing development. The mechanism was introduced into Indian legislative practice in 1954 as an original procedural innovation to enrich legislative scrutiny. Prior to its adoption, members lacked a focused method to obtain prompt official explanations on urgent matters without moving disruptive adjournment motions that interrupted regular parliamentary scheduling and questioned government survival.

The procedure governing the motion is codified under Rule 197 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, while Rule 180 governs the corresponding procedure in Rajya Sabha. A member wishing to raise a matter must deliver written notice to the Secretary-General before the commencement of the daily sitting. The Speaker or Chairman holds absolute discretion to admit or reject the notice based on urgency and central jurisdiction. Ordinarily, not more than two calling attention matters are permitted in a single legislative sitting. When admitted, the minister may deliver a statement immediately or request additional time from the presiding officer to compile complete administrative facts.

A distinguishing characteristic of the Calling Attention Motion is the complete absence of censure or voting against the council of ministers. Unlike an Adjournment Motion, which criticizes the executive and disrupts regular government business, a Calling Attention Motion simply elicits factual clarity on an emerging situation. In Lok Sabha, members whose names appear on the list of business, up to a maximum of five, may each pose one brief question seeking clarification on the ministerial statement. The motion maintains government accountability while safeguarding parliamentary decorum and time management. Because it exists in both chambers, it allows lawmakers across both houses to demand ministerial answers without threatening executive stability or precipitating a constitutional crisis.

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The Calling Attention Motion is an Indian parliamentary innovation introduced in 1954 to raise matters of urgent public importance.

In Lok Sabha, the Calling Attention Motion is governed strictly by Rule 197 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

In Rajya Sabha, the Calling Attention Motion operates under Rule 180 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

Unlike Zero Hour, which is an informal convention, the Calling Attention Motion is formally codified within parliamentary rule books.

A member must give written notice before the commencement of the sitting to propose a Calling Attention Motion.

The Speaker of Lok Sabha or the Chairman of Rajya Sabha possesses absolute discretion to admit or reject the motion notice.

A member of Parliament cannot table more than two notices of calling attention for any single legislative sitting.

Ordinarily, not more than two calling attention matters can be scheduled for discussion in a single sitting of the House.

The motion allows a member to call the attention of a Union Minister to an urgent matter of public importance.

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The concerned Minister may make a brief statement immediately or request time from the presiding officer to respond later.

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The Calling Attention Motion contains no element of censure against the government and does not question executive legitimacy.

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There is no voting, division, or formal legislative resolution moved at the conclusion of a Calling Attention Motion.

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In Lok Sabha, a maximum of five members whose names appear on the notice may ask one clarificatory question each.

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Unlike the Lok Sabha practice, in Rajya Sabha, other members may also seek brief clarifications on the ministerial statement with permission.

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An Adjournment Motion requires the support of fifty members and censures the government, whereas a Calling Attention Motion requires neither.

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While an Adjournment Motion is strictly confined to Lok Sabha, a Calling Attention Motion can be moved in both Houses of Parliament.

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A Calling Attention notice cannot raise issues that are sub judice before a court of law or pending before statutory commissions.

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Matters raised through Calling Attention must relate directly to the statutory or administrative responsibilities of the central government.

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If more than thirty members submit notices on the same topic, the presiding officer determines the priority of names by ballot.

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The motion bridges the procedural gap between ordinary parliamentary questions and extraordinary motions that disrupt scheduled legislative business.

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Educator's Insight

The Calling Attention Motion represents a landmark Indian addition to parliamentary procedure created in 1954. It provides an orderly channel for lawmakers to request prompt ministerial statements on pressing public developments without suspending ordinary house business. Because the motion involves no vote and carries no censure, the executive can clarify sensitive situations openly. This balance preserves administrative stability while upholding continuous legislative scrutiny over union ministries.

For civil services exams, the most frequent trap involves confusing the Calling Attention Motion with an Adjournment Motion or Zero Hour. Remember that Adjournment Motions exist only in Lok Sabha and censure the government, whereas Calling Attention operates in both chambers without censure. Unlike Zero Hour, Rule 197 is formally written into the rule book. Use the mnemonic "CAN-54" to recall that Calling Attention Notices began in 1954.

What Is a Calling Attention Motion? Rule 197 Parliamentary Procedure

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