PM would on December 10 lay the foundation stone for the new Parliament building, which would be a symbol of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and a “temple of democracy” for Independent India.

Try this MCQ first:

Q.The architecture of the present Parliament House of India is inspired from:

a) Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple

b) Virupaksa Temple

c) Dilwara Temples

d) Brihaddeswara Temple

The new Parliament Building

• The building, to be constructed by Tata Projects Ltd. would have a built-up area of 64,500 square metres over four floors and would be built adjacent to the existing building over 22 months.
• Artisans and sculptors from across the country would contribute to the new building, showcasing the diversity and making it a symbol of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
• The building would have modern equipment, be earthquake-safe and accommodate up to 1,224 MPs during joint sessions in the Lok Sabha chamber.
• The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers themselves would accommodate 888 and 384 MPs respectively.

Issues with the old building

• The existing British-built Parliament building, built in the 1920s, was designed for the Imperial Legislative Council and not for a bicameral Parliament.
• The building has been modified over the years, including in 1956 when two floors were added.
• While the number of Lok Sabha seats has remained 545 based on delimitation carried out on the basis of the 1971 Census, it is likely to increase after 2026 as the number of seats has been frozen till then.
• The sources said the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha halls are packed and would not be able to accommodate additional seats when the number of seats goes up.

Back2Basics: Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan)

• The Sansad Bhavan is the seat of the Parliament of India. It houses the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha which represent lower and upper houses respectively in India’s bicameral parliament.
• The existing building draws inspiration from Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple (in M.P.) and was built under the British empire for its Imperial Legislative Council in 1927.
• The opening ceremony, which then housed the Imperial Legislative Council, was performed on 18 January 1927 by Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India.
• Following the end of British rule in India, it was taken over by Constituent Assembly of India which was succeeded by the parliament of India once Constitution of India came into force in 1950.
• In the 2010s, a proposal was introduced to revamp Central Vista and re-build or relocate a number of administrative buildings which initiated a program expecting completion in 2024.

Architectural details:

• Originally called the House of Parliament, it was designed by the British architects’ Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in 1912-1913.
• It was held as part of their wider mandate to construct a new administrative capital city for British India.
• The perimeter of the building is circular, with 144 columns on the outside.
• The building is surrounded by large gardens and the perimeter is fenced off by sandstone railings (jali).
• Construction of the House began in 1921 and it was completed in 1927.

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