India’s Parliament

In a historic move, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are scheduled to meet at 1:15 PM and 2:15 PM, respectively, within the premises of the New Parliament Building. The transition from the Old Parliament Building to the new one took place on Monday, with both houses officially recognizing the new edifice as the Parliament House of India. Today, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will conduct their sessions in the modernized Parliament complex, marking a pivotal moment during the five-day Special Session of the Parliament initiated on Monday. The former iconic Parliament Complex, which has served as the ‘temple of democracy’ for over seven decades, will now be preserved as a heritage site, with the New Parliament Complex, inaugurated earlier this year by Prime Minister Modi, taking its place. The notification regarding this significant change was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on September 18, designating the new Parliament building located in New Delhi, adjacent to the existing Parliament House with Raisina Road to the south and Red Cross Road to the north, as the Parliament House of India. The Central Hall program, scheduled for 11 AM today at the old Parliament building, will commemorate the rich legacy of the Indian Parliament and reaffirm the commitment to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. Security personnel at the Parliament building have also been outfitted in new uniforms, featuring khaki trousers, cream-colored jackets, cream shirts with pink lotus motifs (for men), and vibrant sarees with jackets (for women), along with turbans for marshals, signalling a distinct dress code. On Monday, both houses adjourned after discussing Parliamentary democracy’s evolution over the last 75 years. Presiding officers confirmed that proceedings would commence in the new Parliament building on Tuesday afternoon. Prior to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions at noon, all MPs from both houses will assemble for group photographs, symbolizing the shift to the New Parliament Complex.