The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that Members of Parliament cannot raise questions related to certain public contribution funds, including the PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, and the National Defence Fund.

According to the PMO, this restriction is based on existing parliamentary rules. These rules state that questions are not allowed on matters that do not directly fall under the responsibility of the Government of India or involve bodies that are not funded through government accounts.

The PMO clarified that these funds are supported entirely through voluntary donations from the public and do not receive money from the Consolidated Fund of India, which is the main government treasury. Because of this, the funds are considered outside the scope of routine parliamentary scrutiny.

The communication has drawn attention as it limits lawmakers from seeking official information or clarification about the functioning, collection, and spending of these funds during parliamentary sessions.

While supporters argue that the funds are independent charitable trusts, critics say the decision raises questions about transparency and accountability, especially given the public nature of the donations.