The New Parliament of India

The inauguration of the New Parliament was a historical moment for the entire nation. It represents the people of India and signifies our advancement towards a brighter future. The largest democracy in the world requires one the best parliaments.

So here are a few things you need to know about the New Parliament of India!

1) The Old Parliament was actually a ‘Council House’ completed in 1927, that then served as a Parliament House after independence. Due to Plate Tectonic movements, Delhi now lies in Seismic Zone - IV, meaning a new earthquake safe parliament building had to be built. The old building cannot be certified as earthquake safe as tests to establish the strength of the building will disrupt the functioning of the parliament.

2) Initially, with 552 members, each member of the Lok Sabha represented 5 lakh citizens. With India’s fast growing population, each member today represents 25 lakh citizens. Thus there were many urgent calls for increasing representation in the Indian Parliament.

3) According to various Constitutional Amendment Acts, the strength of the Lok Sabha has remained frozen at 552 since 1976. The freeze on the expansion lifts in 2026, and if the strength of the Parliament is increased, a new Parliament building is necessary for the smooth functioning of a much larger Parliament.

4) The New Parliament is part of the much larger Central Vista Redevelopment project, with an overall budget of Rs. 20,000 crores. It was initially conceived in 2019, but part of the funds were redirected towards the vaccination drives due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

5) The triangular shape of the building ensures maximum utilization of space. The Old Parliament and the New Parliament buildings will work alongside each other.

6) The new Lok Sabha is three times bigger than the previous one with 888 seats and can accommodate up to 1272 seats for Joint Sessions. Its theme is Peacock - The National Bird of India.

7) The new Rajya Sabha is also larger than the previous one with 384 seats. Its theme is Lotus - The National Flower of India.

8) During Joint Sessions in the Old Parliament, seats were added in the aisles, causing a problem for space and huge security risks. The larger sizes significantly reduce the security and Joint Session issues.

9) The technologies and communication systems of the Old Parliament building were outdated, thus requiring an upgrade. The office spaces designed to be secure and efficient, are equipped with the latest technologies.

10) The new Sansad Bhavan, a Platinum-rated green building is a symbol of India’s commitment towards environment sustainability. Not a single tree will be cut down throughout the entire project. New trees will be planted and old ones will be transplanted, thus increasing the overall green cover area in the Central Vista.

11) Materials to build the Parliament were acquired from different parts of the country. Sandstone - Rajasthan, Wood - Nagpur: crafted by artisans from Maharashtra, Hand-knotted carpets - Uttar Pradesh. The project helped promote the unique art and craft techniques across the country, enhancing the livelihoods of numerous artisans and craftsmen.

12) Examples from World History prove that public infrastructure projects play a key role in reviving an economy after a pandemic. The Central Vista Project will help generate employment opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. The large magnitude of renovation and modernisation will have a significant impact on the growth of the entire construction sector.