The first organ of Union/Central Govt is legislature. The function of the legislature is to make laws. In India, the Union Legislature is known as Parliament of India which consists of The President, Upper House i.e. Council of States also known as Rajya Sabha and Lower House i.e. House of the People also known as Lok Sabha. Parliament of India is a constitutional body under Article 79 of our Constitution and is bicameral ( i.e. have two Houses).

The very important question is:                   Parliament consists of ______________

Your answer should be:                                  President + Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha

Parliament

President of India

•  If Parliament of a country just have one house, then it is called as Unicameral Parliament e,g, Parliament of Maldives, Srilanka etc.

• The elections of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are conducted by Election Commission of India and the members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by public and their duty is to protect the interests of public. The members of Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected and their duty is to protect the interest of their States from where they have been elected.
• The tenure of Lok Sabha is five years but tenure is not fixed. Lok Sabha can be dissolved even before completion of its tenure. The power to dissolve Lok Sabha lies with President. The tenure of Lok Sabha can also be extended by one year each time during National Emergency.
• The tenure of Rajya Sabha— Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and can never be dissolved. It always remains in existence.
• The tenure of a member of Lok Sabha is 5 years but tenure is not fixed. The moment President dissolves the Lok Sabha, the membership of its members ceases. As stated above President can dissolve Lok Sabha even before completion of its tenure. The tenure of Lok Sabha can also be extended by one year each time during National Emergency. So tenure of a member of Lok Sabha is 5 years but not fixed.
• The tenure of a member of Rajya Sabha is 6 years and is fixed because Rajya Sabha always remain in existence. Rajya Sabha can never be dissolved. However, one third of members who have completed their tenure of six years, retire after every two years and elections for the same are conducted after every two years to elect its one third members.
• The present strength of Lok Sabha is 543 members and maximum strength can be 550. The maximum strength of 550 has been freezed till 2026. Earlier, President could nominate two members from Anglo Indian Community to Lok Sabha but this provision has been abolished by (104^th Constitutional Amendment Act 2019) effective w.e.f. 25/1/2020.
• The present strength of Rajya Sabha is 233 + 12 = 245 and max strength can be 238+12 = 250. 233 members are elected and 12 members are nominated by president among distinguished persons in basically six fields (Arts, Literature, Science & Technology, Sports, Social Work & Gandhian Thought).
• The Minimum age to be member of Lok Sabha is 25 years and for Rajya Sabha is 30 years.
• The Lok Sabha members are directly elected by public and their duty is to protect the interests of public. Our country has been divided into 543 Lok Sabha Constituencies on the basis of population. One Lok Sabha member is elected from each constituency. The system of election is known as Single Transferable Vote System (first – Past – The – Post or FPTP). The max representation is from UP state (80 members) whereas minimum representation is at least one member from each state.

List of some states with their representation in Lok Sabha.

UP                                      80

PB                                       13

HR                                      10

RAJ                                     25

BIHAR                               40

J & K                                  5

LADAKH                          1

DELHI                               7

SIKKIM                             1

MIZORAM                       1               etc.

• Rajya Sabha members are indirectly elected. They are elected by elected members of Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) of 28 states and elected members of Legislative Assemblies of 3 Union territories namely Delhi, Puducherry and J&K. Rajya Sabha members are representatives of states and their duty is to take care and protect the interests of their respective states. The states and UT’s have representation in Rajya Sabha on the basis of their population. Maximum Representation is of UP state with 31 members and minimum one seat from each state

List of some states and U T’S with their representation in Rajya Sabha.

UP                                      31

PB                                       7

HR                                      5

RAJ                                     10

BIHAR                               16

J & K                                  4

SIKKIM                             1

MIZORAM                       1

DELHI                               3

Puducherry                      1               etc.

• In Rajya Sabha only 3 Union Territories – Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir have representation. The rest of the five UT’s have no representation in Rajya Sabha as these UT’s have no legislative assemblies and Rajya Sabha members are elected by elected members of legislative assemblies.

• The Head of Lok Sabha is known as Speaker. Speaker presides the proceedings of Lok Sabha. Speaker is a member of Lok Sabha and is elected by members of Lok Sabha.

Important Questions

• The first speaker of Lok Sabha –          Sh G.V. Mavlankar
• Present Speaker –          Om Birla
• First women speaker –          Meera Kumar.

If speaker want to resign, he submits his resignation to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Our Vice President is Ex. Officio head of Rajya Sabha i.e. chairperson of Rajya Sabha. Chairperson of Rajya Sabha is not a member of Rajya Sabha but is head of Rajya Sabha. He presides the proceedings of Rajya Sabha.

• First Chairperson of Rajya Sabha –          S. Radhakrishnan
• Present Chairperson of Rajya Sabha             –           Jagdeep Dhankar
• In the absence of Speaker, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha presides the proceedings of Lok Sabha. Dy. Speaker is a member of Lok Sabha but normally not from ruling party but from opposition party. Presently this post is vacant.
• In case if Chairperson of Rajya Sabha is not present then Vice Chairperson presides the proceedings of the House. Vice chairperson is one of the members of Rajya Sabha and generally not from the ruling party. Present vice chairperson of Rajya Sabha is Sh. Harivansh Narain from Janta Dal United Party (JDU).
• Lok Sabha members are elected simultaneously during general elections normally held after every five years and remain members till the Lok Sabha is dissolved by the president. In 2019, we elected 17^th Lok Sabha. In 1951-52, the elections for first Lok Sabha were held. First Lok Sabha was officially constituted on 17/4/1952. Art. 81 of our Constitution states about composition of Lok Sabha.
• Rajya Sabha was officially constituted on 3/4/1952. The last meeting of Constituent Assembly was held on 24^th Jan 1950 in which it elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as first president of India. Thereafter Constituent Assembly was converted into Rajya Sabha. The same Rajya Sabha has been continuing as present Rajya Sabha. It is a permanent house and can never be dissolved.
• 1/3^rd members of Rajya Sabha retire after every 2 years after completing their tenure of six years e.g, if 1/3^rd members were elected in 2010, they got retired in 2016, 1/3^rd members got elected in 2012 and retired in 2018, 1/3^rd member got elected in 2014 and retired in 2020. So after every two years 1/3^rd members retire and elections are held to elect new 1/3^rd members of Rajya Sabha.

The Leader of House Lok Sabha   – Ex. Officio Prime Minister –Narendra Modi

The Leader of House Rajya Sabha    –    Piyush Goyal

Opposition Leader Lok Sabha            –   Vacant

(but Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary is Symbolic leader of opposition -Lok Sabha)

Opposition Leader Rajya Sabha             –          Mallikarjun Kharge

First Leader of opposition Lok Sabha    –          Ram Subhag Singh

First Leader of opposition Rajya Sabha             –          Shyam Nandan Mishra

Present Nominated Members of Rajya Sabha

NAME                                                              FIELD

Mahesh Jethmalani                                          Law

Sonal Mansingh                                                Arts

Ilaiyaraaja                                                          Arts

V.Vijayendra Prasad                                        Arts

Ram Shakal                                                        Social work

Veerendra Heggade                                         Social work

1. T. Usha Sports

Rakesh Sinha                                                     Literature

Ranjan Gagoi                                                     Law

Ghulam Ali Khatana                                        Social Work

Two nominated members seats are vacant which will be nominated by our president soon.

Important Question:

To be a recognized leader of opposition of Lok Sabha, the largest opposition party must secure at least 10% of the total seats of Lok Sabha. Congress party is the largest opposition party with just 52 Lok Sabha members (3 short of required 55 members). So, this position is vacant. (but Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary is Symbolic leader of opposition -Lok Sabha)

JOINT SITTING of PARLIAMENT is called by our President and is presided by Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Maximum gap between two sessions of parliament should be less than 6 months.

New Parliament Building

            Our Parliament building is nearly 100 years old. We needed a new building to accommodate more members in future. The building should be technologically better with more security features, earthquake resistant  and should meet the prevailing requirements. New Parliament building has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 970 crore. The foundation stone of this building was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10^th Dec. 2020. It can accommodate 888 Lok Sabha Members and 384 Rajya Sabha Members. It is expected that strength of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be enhanced in near future. Ex. President late Sh. Pranav Mukherjee urged that the strength of Lok Sabha should be increased to 1000.

Important Note:

 By 104^th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 (126^th Constitution Amendment Bill 2019), reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies has been extended for another ten years (i,e from  70 years to 80 years). Now reservation will be available till 25/1/2030 which was ending on 25/1/2020. The 104^th CAA 2019 came into force on 25/1/2020. Also by this amendment, the provision of nomination of two seats from Anglo Indian Community to Lok Sabha by President and one seats in some State Legislative Assemblies by State Governors has been abolished.

NAME OF PARLIAMENT OF SOME COUNTRIE

In Britain Name of Parliament     –                      British Parliament

Lower House –

(House of Commons)                                   –          650 members

Upper House –           

(House of Lords)                              –                      800 members

In USA   –    Name of Parliament             –          Congress

Lower House –

(House of Representatives)             –                      435 members

Upper House –

(Senate)                                              –                      100 members

In Pakistan–Name of Parliament    – Majlis – e- Shora

Lower House                                    –                      342 members

(National Assembly)

Upper House                                    –                      104 members

(Senate)

Names of Parliament of Some other Countries

• Afghanistan National Assembly (WolesiJirga)
• Bangladesh Jatia Sansad
• Iran Majlis
• Israel Knesset
• Japan Diet
• Nepal Rashtriya Panchayat
• Russia Federal Assembly (Duma)
• Germany Bundastag
• Maldives People’s Majlis
• Srilanka Sinhala

Parliament of Maldives, Srilanka etc. have just one house i.e. they have Unicameral Parliament whereas most of the countries of the world have Bicameral Parliaments

Generally lower house is more powerful than upper house in most of the countries but USA upper House (Senate) is considered as the most powerful upper house whereas British upper house (house of Lords) is considered as the weakest upper house in the world. Generally, the strength of lower house is more as compared to upper house but Britain is an exception.

In India, both houses of Parliament are almost equally powerful. On some issues like No Confidence Motion, Money Bill, Financial Bill, accountability of Union Council of Ministers to Lok Sabha etc, Lok Sabha is more powerful whereas on issues like removal of vice President from his post before completion of his tenure, any transfer of a subject of state list to union list, allowing union parliament to make law on a subject of state list etc,- Rajya Sabha is more powerful.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

BACKGROUND, FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS

The New Parliament Building is an intrinsic part of the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

The New Parliament Building, built by Tata Projects Ltd., has been constructed next to the current structure during a 22-month period and have a built-up size of 64,500 square meters across four stories. The new structure would feature contributions from artists and sculptors from all around the nation, showing the diversity and elevating it to the status of a “Atmanirbhar Bharat” symbol.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING BACKGROUND

From Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, the New Parliament Building or Central Vista Project is in place. It consists of the Rajpath plots of land immediately adjacent to North Block, South Block, the Parliament building, and other secretariat buildings for the central government. King George V announced in the Delhi Durbar (a large assembly) in December 1911 that Delhi would replace Calcutta as the capital of India. In celebration of King George V’s coronation, Delhi Durbar was held.

Edwin Lutyens, who was well-known for his unwavering devotion to European Classicism, and Herbert Baker, a well-known architect in South Africa, were tasked with building a new metropolis. Additionally, Herbert Baker designed the Union buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. Baker and Lutyens both contributed to the design of Parliament House. The Chausath Yogini Mandir in Madhya Pradesh served as the model for the Indian Parliament’s architecture. Edwin Lutyens was the designer of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Herbert Baker created The Secretariat, which consists of both the north and south blocks.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING OBJECTIVE

The New Parliament Building Plan is put forth to accommodate the Parliament, Ministries, and Departments’ current and future space requirements, as well as to offer better public amenities, parking facilities, and other things. The planned redevelopment project is motivated by concerns over fire safety, acoustics, and the deteriorated state of the century – old building.

The strength of the parliament is anticipated to expand from 543 MPs to 900 seats after this project is finished. The initiative also aims to enhance Central vista’s beauty to turn it into a top-tier tourism destination.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING FEATURE

The new parliament is crowned with the national anthem, and its ceiling will feature traditional-style carpeting and fresco paintings similar to those in Rashtrapati Bhawan. In order to preserve some of the qualities of the current parliament, shlokas are written on the interior walls. As with the current structure, Dholpur stone served as the main building material. Red granite  took the place of red sandstone in various interior spaces. Construction  done with extra care to minimise disruption and protect the environment.

The Lok Sabha have a seating arrangement of 888 members in the new Parliament House. India currently has 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. Similarly, the Rajya Sabha, which currently has 245 seats in the new Parliament House, will be able to accommodate 384 members. The room designated for it will have seats for 1,272 people when a joint assembly of the two houses is called at the new Parliament House. Right now, there are just 430 seats available in the Centre Hall where the two Houses convene jointly.

The new Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers  have more seating (888 and 384 seats, respectively); a 25-year moratorium on raising the state-by-state distribution of seats expires in 2026.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING MAJOR ATTRACTION

The new structure have six entrances where “guardian statues depicting auspicious animals” are on display. Based on their significance in Indian culture, vaastu shastra, and characteristics like intelligence, victory, power, and prosperity, these “auspicious animals” have been picked. Each animal selected to be housed in the structure carries a set of affirmations that promote harmony and well-being.

The gaja (elephant), which stands for knowledge, riches, intellect, and memory, guards the ceremonial entry to the north. The northern direction is connected to Mercury, the source of greater intellect, according to vaastu shastra. The ashva (horse), a symbol of endurance, strength, power, and speed that describes the calibre of governance, guards the southern gate. The garuda (eagle), a symbol of the people’s aspirations, soars at the eastern entrance.

According to vaastu shastra, the rising sun, which symbolizes victory, is connected to the east. Swans, which stand for judgement and wisdom, are shown at the northeastern entrance. The remaining entrances feature the Makara, a mythical aquatic creature made up of parts from various animals, which symbolizes unity in diversity, and the Shardula, a mythical creature thought to be the most powerful living thing, which represents the strength of the nation’s people.

The new structure  include three ceremonial foyers, four galleries for each of the two Houses, six granite statues honouring individuals who contributed to the liberation movement and the creation of the Constitution, as many India galleries, and one Constitution gallery.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING SENGOL

‘Sengol’, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, which was received by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British and was kept in a museum in Allahabad. It was installed in the New Parliament Building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28   2023.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING ARCHITECT

The new Parliament House is created by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management, which is managed by “architect Bimal Patel”. The previous Parliament House, a colonial-era structure, was created by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

The new Parliament building is a crucial component of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” project since craftsmen and sculptors from all across India has contributed to and highlight the country’s cultural diversity there. Additionally, the new Parliament building is earthquake-resistant.

“SENGOL”  INSTALLED IN NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

The new Parliament building, which is part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.

• One of the highlights of the event is the installation of a historic golden sceptre, called Sengol, near the Speaker’s
• The Sengol is a symbol of India’s independence and sovereignty, as well as its cultural heritageand diversity.

WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SENGOL?

• TheSengol is profound in meaning, derived from the Tamil word “Semmai”, it means “Righteousness”. It was made of gold or silver and was often decorated with precious stones.
  • A Sengol sceptre was carried by emperors on ceremonial occasions, and used to represent their authority.
• It is associated with the Chola Empire, one of the longest-ruling and most influential dynasties in South India.
  • The Cholas ruled over parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Sri Lankafrom the 9^th to 13^th century CE.
  • They were known for their military prowess, maritime trade, administrative efficiency, cultural patronage, and temple architecture.
• The Cholas had a tradition of handing over the Sengol sceptre from one king to another as a mark of succession and legitimacy.
  • The ceremony was usually performed by ahigh priest or a guru who blessed the new king and conferred him with the Sengol.

HOW DID SENGOL BECOME A PART OF INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE?

• Before independencefrom the British rule in 1947, the then Viceroy – Lord Mountbatten posed a question to the to-be Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru: “What is the ceremony that should be followed to symbolise the transfer of power from British to Indian hands?”
  • PM Nehru then consulted  Rajagopalachari,commonly known as Rajaji, who went on to become the last Governor-General of India.
    • Rajaji suggested that the Chola model of handing over the Sengol sceptre could be adopted as a suitable ceremony for India’s independence.
    • He said that it would reflectIndia’s ancient civilisation and culture, as well as its unity in diversity.
  • The Sengol sceptre was presented to PM Nehru by Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam (a 500-year-old Saivaite monastery) on August 14, 1947.
• A golden sceptre was crafted by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty,a famous jeweller in Madras (now Chennai).
  • TheNandi, with its unyielding gaze as the beholder of “Nyaya”, is hand-carved at the top.

WHERE WAS SENGOL  AND WHY IS IT INSTALLED IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING?

• After receiving theSengol sceptre in 1947, Nehru kept it at his residence in Delhi for some time.
  • He then decided to donate it toAnand Bhavan Museum in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), his ancestral home.
    • The museum was established by hisfather Motilal Nehru in 1930 to preserve the history and legacy of India’s freedom movement.
  • The Sengol sceptre remained at Anand Bhavan Museum for over seven decades.
• In 2021-22,when the Central Vista redevelopment project was underway, the government decided to revive this historical event and install the Sengol sceptre in the new Parliament building.
  • It is placed near the Speaker’s seat in the new Parliament building accompanied by aplaque that  explain its history and meaning.
• The installation of Sengol in the new Parliament building is not just a symbolic gesture but also a meaningful message.
  • It signifies that India’s democracy is rooted in its ancient traditions and valuesand that it is inclusive and respectful of its diversity and plurality.

NEW VS OLD PARLIAMENT: FACTS

This iconic structure represents the spirit of a self-reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) and was dedicated to the nation by PM Modi on the 28^th of May 2023. It stands as a replacement for the old Parliament building, which was completed almost a century ago in 1927.

The decision to construct a new Parliament building as part of the Central Vista project in the national capital was driven by the need for additional space to meet the present requirements. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by PM Modi on December 10, 2020, and construction commenced in January 2021.

Issues with the Old Parliament House included a lack of convenient seating arrangements for Members of Parliament (MPs), which hampered their efficiency in carrying out their work. Designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the colonial-era building, originally known as the Council House, was constructed between 1921 and 1927. It served as the home of the Imperial Legislative Council.

OLD VS NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Seats in Lok Sabha:

The new Parliament is able to accommodate 888 MPs in the Lok Sabha, which is quite more than the current capacity of lok sabha (543).

Seats in Rajya Sabha:

The Rajya Sabha of the new Parliament House will also have a larger seating capacity. The current Rajya Sabha has 245 seats, while the new Rajya Sabha  have a provision for 384 seats. This expansion ensures that there will be no shortage of space in the House even if the number of Rajya Sabha MPs increases in the future.

No Central Hall:

Unlike the old Parliament House, the new one is not having a Central Hall. Instead, the Lok Sabha Hall in the new Parliament House is  designed to easily accommodate joint sessions. It will be able to seat 1,272 people, eliminating the need to install additional chairs during joint sessions.

Earthquake proof:

Given that Delhi has moved from Zone 2 to Zone 4 in terms of seismic activity, with an increased risk of earthquakes in the National Capital Region (NCR), the new Parliament building is constructed to withstand such events. It is reinforced to withstand strong shocks in Zone 5, ensuring the safety of the occupants.

Peacock and Lotus Flower Theme:

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the new Parliament House showcases distinct themes. The Lok Sabha incorporates the national bird, the Peacock, while the Rajya Sabha features the national flower, the Lotus, in their respective structures.

Modern Facilities:

As a gift to the country on the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022, the new Parliament House is the first Parliament building constructed after India’s independence. Each MP’s seat is having a multimedia display in front of it, enhancing the technological capabilities of the House.

Eco-Friendly Features:

The new Parliament building prioritizes sustainability and eco-friendliness. Green construction materials is used, and devices are installed to save 30 percent electricity consumption. Rainwater harvesting and solar power generation systems is implemented. The seating arrangements have become more comfortable, and the construction is undertaken by Tata Projects Limited on a total area of 64,500 sqm, with the design by HCP Design Planning and Management Private Limited.

Additional Committee Rooms:

The new Parliament House includes a significantly higher number of committee rooms. These rooms are equipped with sophisticated audio-visual systems, facilitating the smooth functioning of parliamentary committees.

Special facilities for Media:

The new Parliament House has special facilities for the media. A total of 530 seats are arranged for the media. Both houses have galleries for the general public to witness parliamentary proceedings. There is a clear view of the house from every seat.

Public Parliament House:

Preparations are on to make the new Parliament House a public parliament house. Entry of children, elderly and disabled are easier. There are two special entrance points for the general public to reach the Public Gallery and Central Constitutional Gallery. Fire safety was not properly maintained in the earlier building. The new building is having better fire safety features.

PM MODI ISSUES A SPECIAL ₹ 75 COIN TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

What is the purpose behind this coin?​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a Rs 75 commemorative coin to commemorate the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 75th anniversary. The coin will serve as a tribute to India’s long-standing relationship with the UN agency.

Are commemorative coins available?

Although the commemorative coins are not released for general circulation, people can still purchase them. In India, commemorative coins are frequently released to mark important events or special occasions. They are occasionally given out as a sign of respect for famous people or historical sites.