**Executive Summary**
This document pertains to Unstarred Question No. 2795 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 17, 2025, regarding the timeline for government authorities to respond to official communications from Members of Parliament. The document refers to established procedures and guidelines outlined in the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP). The CSMOP guidelines are available at the provided URL.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Response Procedures & Guidelines:**
* The Government has established procedures and guidelines for dealing with official communications from Members of Parliament, State Governments, and Ministries under the Union Government, as outlined in the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP).
* Communications should be attended to promptly.
* **Ministerial Responses:**
* When a communication is addressed to the Minister, the Minister should reply to it where practical.
* **Acknowledgement and Reply Timelines:**
* All communications received from Members of Parliament must be acknowledged within 15 days.
* A reply must follow within 15 days of the acknowledgment.
* **Interim Reply for Delays:**
* If a final reply is anticipated to be delayed, an interim reply must be sent within 15 days of receipt.
* The interim reply should indicate the possible date for a final response.
* **Guideline Location:**
* The guidelines are available at: https://darpg.gov.in/relatedlinks/csmop
**Impact Analysis**
**Government Authorities (Zila Parishad, Municipalities, Departments under State Government, Ministries under Union Government)**
* **Impact:** Required to adhere to the CSMOP guidelines regarding communication with Members of Parliament.
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely acknowledgement and responses to communications from Members of Parliament within the specified timeframes or provide interim replies as required.
**Members of Parliament**
* **Impact:** Provides a framework for expected response times and procedures for their communications with government authorities.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the CSMOP guidelines and follow up on communications if deadlines are not met.
**Minister(s)**
* **Impact:** The Minister is expected to reply personally to communications addressed to them, where practical.
* **Action Required:** As far as is practical, reply personally to the communication, or delegate.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP): Procedure and guidelines for dealing with official communications, including those from Members of Parliament.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, whose members are involved in official communications addressed by this document.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions: The ministry responsible for administrative reforms and public grievances, relevant to the document's subject.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PUBLIC GRIEVANCES)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2795
(ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025)
RESPONSE TO OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS BY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
2795. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the expected timeline or mandated period within which Government
authorities are required to reply to an official communication from a Member of Parliament (such
as, response is expected within 30, 60, or 90 days) for Zila Parishad, Municipalities, departments
under the State Government and Ministries under the Union Government ; and
(b) the norms, rules or procedures governing coordination and communication between
Government departments and Lok Sabha Members of Parliament?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) and (b): The Government has laid down the procedure and guidelines as contained in Central
Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMOP) for, inter- alia, dealing with official
communications received from the Members of Parliament, State Governments and Ministries
under the Union Government. It is laid down in CSMOP that such communications should be
attended to promptly. Where a communication is addressed to the Minister, the Minister himself
should as far as practicable, reply to it. Each communication received from the Members of
Parliament will be acknowledged within 15 days, followed by a reply within the next 15 days of
acknowledgement sent. Where any delay is anticipated in sending a final reply, or information has
to be obtained from another Ministry or another office, an interim reply will be sent within 15 days
(from the date of receipt) indicating the possible date by which a final reply can be given. The
guidelines are available at https://darpg.gov.in/relatedlinks/csmop .
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