PART F: SYNOPSIS SECTION

17.26 Nature of Work- As mentioned in para 10.42 also, the Synopsis Section is responsible for bringing out bilingual Synopsis of the day-to-day proceedings (other than Questions-Answers) of the Rajya Sabha. These are printed overnight, distributed to all Members the next morning. At the end of each session copies are got compiled in a bound volume and sent to the Hon'ble Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Research & Library Section.

In the inter-session period, the Section prepares the bilingual contents in an alphabetical order of the Synopses of the previous session. The contents so prepared and printed are appended on the bound volumes for ready reference of various items contained in that particular volume. All these jobs are handled by the Assistant Editors and Editors posted in the Section.

17.27 Procedure- The Synopsis Section shall obtain the admitted text of Special Mention and shall, without waiting for uncorrected debates, include the text in the Synopsis of the day as soon as possible. In case a Listed Special Mention is not made or made in a different order, necessary correction is done. The Reporters Section sends to the Synopsis Section the uncorrected debate portions of Part-II Debates as soon as they are complete, at hourly intervals. The time of receipt is to be recorded in a register opened for each session. Twenty minute periods of the transcripts are distributed among the Synopsis writers who select portions for inclusion into the draft Synopsis, add stylistic and grammatical variation and get their portion entered into the Computer in files opened indicating serial order for subsequent merging. In case a particular 'turn' has not been received due to non-finalizations, the Synopsis writers leave a blank portion for later addition and proceeds to prepare Synopsis of subsequent turns available. As and when the missing turn is received it is allotted and inserted at the appropriate place.

Each hour, a print out of the Synopsis compiled during the hour is taken and further edited to give consistency, accuracy and completeness, and the finalized version is stored separately in the computer, and merged with similar material to produce the draft final Synopsis. The corrected version is then proof read. After the each hour's Synopsis is prepared, it is printed and a copy used for Hindi translation and text entry in the Computer. The Hindi text is finalized by proceeding similar to that described above. The work of selection from transcript, entering into computer, editing of draft Synopsis, Hindi translation and entering of text into the computer etc. all go on in sequence, till the entire process is complete. Thereafter CRC copy is prepared of English and Hindi Synopsis and a final reading is given.

Both manuscripts are then sent to the Printing Section-II for overnight printing at the Government of India Printing Press, in CRC form. Printed copies are distributed through the Distribution Section the next morning. Copy of the electronic text is sent as Email the same day to Members, and also to NIC for putting onto the Internet.

Every Synopsis-Writer must go through his portion of Synopsis in the printed copy next day and correct the errors, if any, for which an errata is issued by the Section. On the front page of the Synopsis, an asterisk should be given at the words 'Synopsis of Debates' and a footnote given stating 'This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.'

The Synopsis should cover proceedings upto at least 6 pm of each day or 5 hours of actual proceedings. In order to ensure that delays do not occur, Editor-incharge of Synopsis Branch must

i) distribute work evenly among the Synopsis writers, keeping in view periods of adjournment etc. during the day;

ii) ensure that uncorrected debate portions are received regularly from the Reporting Section. He must keep in touch with Director (Reporting) and Chief Parliamentary Reporter for this purpose;

iii) ensure that translation and English and Hindi word processing work also go on smoothly so that the work is completed as quickly as possible; and

iv) ensure that prepared text of Special Mentions, Statements of Ministers etc. are available well in time for incorporation into the Synopsis.

The Synopsis of Debates does not purport to be a full report of the proceedings and is, therefore, not published under Rule 260 of the Rules of Procedure. The authoritative record under Rule 260 called the ‘Official Reports is published separately as described below.

17.28 Keeping of Records & Maintenance of Duties- The record of the Section is kept by the clerical staff under the supervision of Section-in-charge.