Parliament of India
Supreme bicameral legislature of the Republic of India.
The Parliament of India, known in Hindi as the Bhāratīya Saṁsada, is the country’s top law-making body. It has two chambers: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President of India serves as the head of this legislature and can call either house into session, adjourn it, or dissolve the Lok Sabha—but only on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Central Council of Ministers, who are members of Parliament and form the government. Members of Parliament (MPs) are either elected or nominated by the president. Lok Sabha MPs are chosen directly by Indian citizens in single-member districts, while Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by state legislative assembly members using proportional representation. The Lok Sabha has a sanctioned strength of 543 seats, and the Rajya Sabha has 245, including 12 nominees from fields like literature, art, science, and social service. Parliament meets at Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi. As of 2024, it represents the world’s largest democratic electorate, with 968 million eligible voters. On 28 May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and inaugurated the New Parliament Building, located next to the old one.
**History** Under British rule, India’s legislative body was the Imperial Legislative Council, created in 1861 by the Indian Councils Act and dissolved in 1947 when India gained independence. After independence, the Constituent Assembly was elected to draft the Constitution. In 1950, once the Constitution took effect, the Constituent Assembly was disbanded and replaced by the Parliament of India, which continues to function.
**Parliament House** *Old Premises (Samvidhan Sadan)* The old Parliament House, now called Samvidhan Sadan, is in New Delhi. It was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, who were tasked by the British government with planning and building New Delhi, to house the Central Legislative Assembly, the Council of State, and the Chamber of Princes. Construction took six years, and the building was opened on 18 January 1927 by Viceroy Lord Irwin. It cost ₹8.3 million (about US$86,000). The structure is 21 meters tall, 170 meters in diameter, and covers 2.29 hectares. Its Central Hall contains the chambers of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the library hall. Around these three chambers is a four-story circular building with accommodations for members, parliamenta
- established
- 1950
- type
- Bicameral legislature
- houses
- Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People)
- lok_sabha_strength
- 543 elected members
- rajya_sabha_strength
- 245 members (233 elected, 12 nominated)
- meeting_place
- Sansad Bhavan, New Delhi
- electorate
- 968 million eligible voters (2024)
Lore & Background
The Parliament of India succeeded the Constituent Assembly of India in 1950 after the Constitution came into force. Its origins trace back to the Imperial Legislative Council created in 1861 under British rule, which was disbanded in 1947 upon independence. The Constituent Assembly, elected to write the Constitution, was then disbanded and replaced by the Parliament.
The Parliament originally met at the Old Parliament House (Samvidhan Sadan) in New Delhi, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and opened on 18 January 1927. That building housed the Central Legislative Assembly, the Council of State, and the Chamber of Princes. Its Central Hall was where the Indian Constitution was framed. On 28 May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Parliament Building (Sansad Bhavan), located adjacent to the old one, with a distinctive triangular shape and expanded seating capacities.
Reader's Guide
The Parliament of India is the central institution for lawmaking, possessing legislative powers to enact laws on subjects in the Central List and Concurrent List, amend the Constitution with a special majority, and exercise residuary powers over matters not covered by the Central or State Lists. It also holds financial powers, including the formulation and approval of the central budget. The Lok Sabha is directly elected by citizens over 18 years of age, while the Rajya Sabha is indirectly elected by state legislative assemblies and includes 12 members nominated by the president for expertise in literature, art, science, and social service. The President of India, as head of the legislature, can summon, prorogue, or dissolve the Lok Sabha only on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Central Council of Ministers. The Parliament's significance lies in its role as the supreme legislative body representing the world's largest democratic electorate, shaping national policy and governance.
Did You Know?
- The Parliament of India has an electorate of 968 million eligible voters as of 2024, the largest in the world.
- The Old Parliament House (Samvidhan Sadan) was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and opened on 18 January 1927.
- The new Parliament building (Sansad Bhavan) was inaugurated on 28 May 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The Lok Sabha can accommodate up to 1,272 seats for joint sessions of Parliament.
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