Parliament House, New Delhi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament House |
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Saṁsada Bhavana
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The Parliament House with the Old Parliament House in the background
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| General information | |
| Address | 118, Rafi Marg |
| Town or city | New Delhi |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 28°37′02″N 77°12′36″E / 28.61722°N 77.21000°E |
| Current tenants | Parliament of India |
| Groundbreaking | 1 October 2020 |
| Completed | 20 May 2023 |
| Opened | 28 May 2023 |
| Client | Central Public Works Department |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Height | 39.6 metres |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Grounds | 64,500 m2 (694,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Bimal Patel |
| Architecture firm | HCP Design, Planning and Management |
| Main contractor | Tata Projects |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1,272 (Lok Sabha chamber: 888 Rajya Sabha chamber: 384) |
The Parliament House (also known as Saṁsada Bhavana) in New Delhi is a very important building in India. It is where the Parliament of India meets to make laws for the country. Inside, you will find two main parts: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. These are like two different teams of representatives who work together to govern India.
This new building is located in the heart of New Delhi, near many other important government offices. It stands proudly next to the Old Parliament House, which served the nation for many years. The new Parliament House was officially opened on May 28, 2023, and members of parliament started using it for their important work on September 19, 2023.
Contents
India's New Parliament House
Why a New Building?
The Old Parliament House was a beautiful building made of sandstone. It first opened in January 1927. Over time, as India grew and changed, the old building started to show its age. It also became too small for all the members of parliament and their staff.
By the early 2010s, people realized that a new, larger, and more modern building was needed. This new building would help the government work more efficiently and serve the people of India better.
Building the New Parliament
In 2019, the Government of India started a big plan called the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. This project aimed to update and improve the main administrative area in New Delhi. A key part of this plan was to build a brand-new Parliament House.
The design for the new building was created by architect Bimal Patel and his team. The company Tata Projects was chosen to construct the building. They worked hard to bring the design to life.
Design and Construction Details
The groundbreaking ceremony, which is like a special event to mark the start of construction, happened in October 2020. Even though there were some legal discussions about the project, the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 10, 2020. This ceremony included prayers from different religions, showing India's diverse culture.
Construction officially began in January 2021. Many materials for the building came from different parts of India. For example, red and white sandstone and red granite came from Rajasthan. Beautiful teak wood was brought from Maharashtra, and soft carpets were made in Uttar Pradesh. This showed how different parts of the country contributed to this national project.
By July 2022, a large statue of India's national emblem was placed on top of the new building. The main structure was finished in August 2022, and the entire project was completed by May 20, 2023.
Inside the Parliament House
The new Parliament House has a unique triangular shape and stands right next to the old building. It covers a large area of about 64,500 square meters and has four floors. The building was designed to be very strong and earthquake resistant, which means it can withstand tremors.
Unique Features and Symbols
The building has three special gates: Gyan Dwar (Knowledge Gate), Shakti Dwar (Power Gate), and Karma Dwar (Karma Gate). These names represent important ideas. There are also six main entrances, each guarded by statues of mythological creatures like Gaja (elephant), Ashva (horse), and Garuda (eagle-like bird).
On top of the building, there is a huge sculpture of the Indian national emblem. It is 6.5 meters tall and weighs 9,500 kilograms! Inside, the building's three main sections are inspired by India's national symbols: the banyan tree, the peacock, and the lotus.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Chambers
The Parliament House has separate rooms, called chambers, for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha chamber is decorated in blue-green colors and can seat 888 members. The Rajya Sabha chamber has a red theme and can seat 384 members. If both houses need to meet together, the Lok Sabha chamber can be expanded to hold 1,272 members.
Above the speaker's seat in both chambers, you can see a sculpture of the Ashoka Chakra, an ancient symbol of India. A special 1.5-meter-long scepter, called the Sengol, is placed next to the speaker's seat in the Lok Sabha. This beautiful silver and gold-plated staff has an image of a Nandi (a sacred bull) and represents fair governance.
Other Important Areas
The building also features a large central Grand Constitution Hall. In an open-sky area, there is a banyan tree, which is a symbol of India. Members of parliament have their own offices, and there is a library and a lounge for them.
The crafts gallery, called Shilp Deergha, showcases about 255 crafts from around 400 artisans across the country. It is organized around eight themes like Parv (festival) and Prakriti (nature). You can also find statues of important figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Chanakya on the premises. A fascinating foucault pendulum, 22 meters tall and weighing 36 kilograms, hangs from the ceiling of the central foyer, showing the Earth's rotation.
The Grand Opening
On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the new Parliament House. The ceremony included a traditional Hindu ritual and prayers from different faiths. The historic Sengol was also installed during this event, following ancient traditions.
While many lawmakers attended the inauguration, some political parties decided not to participate. There were some discussions about the nature of the ceremony. However, over 300 members of parliament were present for this important occasion.
First Official Meetings
The first official meetings in the new building took place on September 19, 2023, during a special session of parliament. On that very day, an important law called the Women's Reservations Bill, 2023 was introduced. This bill aimed to reserve seats for women in legislative bodies.
A Look at Security
On December 13, 2023, an incident occurred where two people from the visitor's gallery entered the Lok Sabha chamber and released colored smoke. The meetings of both houses were temporarily stopped but resumed later. The speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, started an investigation into what happened.
Four people were arrested in connection with the incident. As a result, the rules for visitors were changed to make sure everyone is properly checked before entering, helping to keep the Parliament House safe.
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 | Joseph Yoakum |
 | Laura Wheeler Waring |
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