The correct option is (b) 2 only.
Explanation
Question Hour is a significant parliamentary device used to ensure the accountability of the Executive to the Legislature. It is typically the first hour of every parliamentary sitting.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Question Hour is a session where Members of Parliament (MPs) ask questions to Ministers (and occasionally to private members) regarding matters of public interest, administration, and government policies. It is not a mechanism for the government to ask questions to citizens.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The primary purpose of Question Hour is to enable MPs to elicit information from the government. It serves as a check on the government's functioning, allowing members to highlight grievances and scrutinize administrative actions.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Question Hour is not restricted to the Budget Session. It takes place during all sessions of Parliament (Budget, Monsoon, and Winter), usually constituting the first hour of a sitting, unless suspended by the Presiding Officer or cancelled for specific reasons.
Key Takeaway: Question Hour is the first hour of every parliamentary sitting where MPs hold the Executive accountable by asking Starred, Unstarred, or Short Notice questions.