Indian Parliament Building

Indian Parliament Building
Name	Parliament House
Native name	Sansad Bhavan
Caption	Parliament House, New Delhi
Location	New Delhi, Delhi, India
Coordinates	28.6149°N 77.2090°E
Architect	Edwin Lutyens, Herbert Baker
Client	Viceroy's Executive Council, Government of India
Construction start	1921
Completion date	1927
Style	Indo-Saracenic architecture, British Raj architecture
Website	Sansad.nic.in

Indian Parliament Building is the circular legislative complex located in New Delhi that houses the bicameral legislature of India, including the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Designed during the British Raj by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker as part of the New Delhi master plan, the building has witnessed landmark events such as the Indian Independence, the adoption of the Constitution of India, and major legislative debates involving figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It stands adjacent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block (India), and South Block (India) within the Central Secretariat precinct.

History

The site selection and creation formed part of the early 20th-century relocation of the Imperial capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi, a project endorsed by King-Emperor George V and administered under the authority of the Viceroy of India, notably Lord Hardinge. The architectural competition and appointment of Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker followed proposals by the Delhi Durbar organizers and consultations with the Council of India and members of the British Parliament. Construction commenced under the Prince of Wales visit era and was overseen during the tenures of successive viceroys including Lord Reading and Lord Irwin. Following completion in 1927, the circular chamber became the seat of the Imperial Legislative Council and later the Constituent Assembly of India which drafted the Constitution of India in 1947–1949. The building has since been central to events such as the Emergency (India), the 1999 Kargil War parliamentary sessions, and debates on amendments like the Goods and Services Tax passage.

Architecture and design

The circular plan reflects influences from St. Stephen's Chapel, classical Pantheon (Rome), and elements of Indo-Saracenic architecture championed during the British Raj. Lutyens' collaboration with Baker produced a fusion of Classical architecture motifs and indigenous motifs found in Mughal-era structures such as the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Exterior colonnades, the central rotunda, and the assembly chambers incorporate design references comparable to Parliament of the United Kingdom and United States Capitol planning traditions. Sculptural reliefs, friezes, and carved stonework draw on artisans from regions including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, while the spatial axis aligns with the grand avenue linking the Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. The building's proportions and axiality echo the New Delhi masterplan developed in consultation with the Town Planning Committee and officials from the Public Works Department (India).

Construction and materials

Construction used locally sourced materials such as sandstone from Bansi Paharpur, marble from Makrana, and granite procured via the colonial supply networks overseen by the Public Works Department (India). Structural engineering incorporated reinforced concrete and steel frameworks typical of 1920s imperial projects, with on-site masonry executed by craftsmen mobilized from princely states including Jodhpur and Jaipur. Decorative elements utilized traditional techniques from workshops associated with the Archaeological Survey of India and private firms engaged during the British Raj. Procurement, contracts, and labor arrangements were managed through offices connected to the Viceroy of India and the Government of India (British India), with transportation tied to the Indian Railways network expansion.

Function and layout

The complex houses the two houses of the Parliament of India: the lower house Lok Sabha and the upper house Rajya Sabha, along with offices for the Prime Minister of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha. Key rooms include the Lok Sabha Chamber, Rajya Sabha Chamber, Library, Committee Rooms, and the Central Hall where the Constituent Assembly met and where presidential addresses occur during the President of India's joint sittings. Public galleries facilitate access for citizens, media from outlets like Press Trust of India, and delegations from foreign legislatures such as the British House of Commons and the United States Congress. Security, protocol, and ceremonial functions link to agencies including the Parliament Security Service, Central Reserve Police Force, and the President's Bodyguard during state events like the Republic Day (India) arrangements.

Renovation and redevelopment

Over its history, the complex has undergone incremental maintenance and periodic upgrades under programs directed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India), the Ministry of Urban Development (India), and the Lok Sabha Secretariat. After debates about conservation and modern needs, the New Parliament Building redevelopment initiative began in the 21st century to address seismic resilience, technological integration, and increased seating capacity for members from states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Conservationists connected to the Archaeological Survey of India and heritage bodies like the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage weighed in alongside committees formed by the Prime Minister of India and the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. Emergency retrofits have included electrical, HVAC, broadcasting upgrades for networks like All India Radio, and digitization projects involving the National Informatics Centre.

Cultural and symbolic significance

The building symbolizes continuity from the Colonial India infrastructure to post-Independence republican sovereignty, hosting landmark addresses by international statespersons including Franklin D. Roosevelt-era correspondents, visits by Queen Elizabeth II, and exchanges with delegations from the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. It features in national ceremonies such as Constitution Day (India) commemorations and is a focal point for civic demonstrations near Jantar Mantar (Delhi) and other civic spaces. As an architectural icon, it appears in works discussing Lutyens' Delhi, heritage studies by scholars at Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Delhi, and in cultural representations involving filmmakers and authors who depict legislative politics and historical events like the Quit India Movement. The structure remains a touchstone in debates over heritage conservation, urban planning led by Delhi Development Authority, and the symbolic geography of New Delhi's ceremonial axis.

Category:Buildings and structures in New Delhi Category:Legislative buildings