Old Parliament vs New Parliament: 10 Differences

19 SEP, 2023

Sushim Mukul

Photo: Narendra Modi

Today (September 19), the Parliament of the Republic of India formally moved to the new Parliament as the legislative proceedings started in the new one. The old one, from now on, will be called: Samvidhan Sadan.

OLD TO NEW

Photo: Narendra Modi

India's new Parliament boasts an impressive seating capacity, accommodating 888 MPs in the Lok Sabha, and 384 in Rajya Sabha, which is a threefold increase from the old Parliament.

INCREASED SEATING

Photo: Narendra Modi

Unlike the old Parliament House, the new one has no central hall. Hence, the Lok Sabha, with 888 seats, shall be used to facilitate joint sessions.

NO CENTRAL HALL

Photo: Narendra Modi

The Lok Sabha now has a peacock-themed decor, while the Rajya Sabha features a lotus-themed decor. Previously, the Lok Sabha had a green theme, and Rajya Sabha a maroon one.

Interior Theme

Photo: Narendra Modi

Every MP's seat in the new Parliament House will feature a multimedia display, compared to a few switches and a microphone in the old one, marking a tech upgrade.

TECH INTEGRATION

Photo: Narendra Modi

The new Parliament includes a higher number of committee rooms, equipped with advanced audio-visual systems, to ensure efficient committee operations.

COMMITTEE ROOMS UPGRADE

Photo: Narendra Modi

Specialised and upgraded facilities for media persons, with 530 seats, have been allocated in the galleries in both houses for them to cover the proceedings.

space for press 

Photo: Narendra Modi

The new Parliament House aims for greater accessibility, with better provisions for easier access for children, the elderly, and disabled individuals, along with improved fire safety features.

enhanced accessibility

Photo: Narendra Modi

With Delhi's heightened seismic activity in mind, the new Parliament building is made to withstand earthquakes, compared to the old one constructed way back in 1927.

EARTHQUAKE RESILIENT

Photo: Narendra Modi

Sustainability has taken centre stage, as the new Parliament employs eco-friendly green construction materials and incorporates methods to reduce electricity consumption by 30%, with lots of open spaces.

sustainAbility

Photo: Narendra Modi

The new triangular-shaped Parliament, while offering more space than its circular predecessor, is said to be 10 per cent smaller in size.

scale and structure