Parliament & Democracy
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 May 2023 inaugurated India’s new Parliament building and called it a symbol of the “aspirations” of 140crore citizens and a vehicle that will drive India in the next 25 years towards its goal of becoming a “developed country” to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the nation’s Independence. This is the temple of our democracy giving the message of India’s determination to the world.
The new Parliament House will be a witness to the rise of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (selfreliant India), he said, adding that the new building was an example of the coexistence of the ancient and the modern.
The new parliament building was developed as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project. The prime minister inaugurated the parliament and placed ‘Sengol’, the symbol of power transfer to India from the British.
Sengol
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Parliament
Created after 1947, the Indian Parliament is an expression of the faith that the people of India have in principles of democracy. These are participation by people in the decision-making process and government by consent. The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of the people. Following are the important functions of the Parliament:
- To Select the National Government
- To Control, Guide and Inform the Government
- Law-Making
Democracy
The word ‘Democracy’ is derived from Greek origins and means “rule by the people.” “Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.”
- Parliament is the essence of democracy – participation by people in the decision-making process and government by consent.
- It is a place for debate/discussion/deliberation to realise the aspirations of the people.
- The Indian Parliament is the highest deliberative body and supreme representative institution of the largest working democracy in the world.
- It is in its Chambers that the destiny of a nation of a billion-plus people is shaped, and their expectations, concerns, problems and dreams are fulfilled.
- It is in this temple of democracy that the members of the two Houses of Parliament keep the Executive accountable at all times and closely monitor the policies and programmes for national welfare.
About Old Parliament
The old parliament building’s construction began in 1921 and was completed in 1927. It was designed by the architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
The building was originally called the Council House and housed the Imperial Legislative Council, the legislature of British India.
The parliament building’s circular shape was inspired by the Colosseum, the Roman historical monument. A few Indian elements, such as jaalis and chhatris, were added to the design.
More Space
- The old Parliament building, was built in 1927. It was not designed to accommodate a bicameral legislature (i.e having two chambers or houses) according to the government data.
- During joint sessions, the limited seating capacity becomes the problem.
- Also, the lack of space for movement poses a significant security risk. It is likely to increase substantially after 2026 as the freeze on total number of seats is only till 2026.
Outgrowing the Heritage
- The existing Parliament House, is a century-old Heritage Grade-I building.
- Heritage Grade-I comprises buildings and precincts of national or historic importance, embodying excellence in architectural style, design, technology and material usage and/or aesthetics.
- They may be associated with a great historic event, personality, movement or institution. They have been and are the prime landmarks of the region.
- With increase in parliamentary activities and users over the years, the old building’s age and limited infrastructure no longer meet the current requirements. For example in terms of space, amenities, and technology.
Infrastructure Distress
- There are many Ad hoc constructions and modifications made to the old Parliament building which have strained the building’s infrastructure.
- The addition of essential services like water supply, air conditioning, and CCTV cameras has led to seepage issues, impacting the building’s aesthetics.
- Outdated communication structures and inadequate fire safety measures raise concerns about the safety of people working in Parliament.
Concerns about Structural Safety
- Old Parliament was built when Delhi was in Seismic Zone II, but now the region falls under Seismic Zone IV. Therefore, it must meet the new modern seismic standards.
Inadequate Office Spaces
Over time, the inner service corridors have been converted into offices which have resulted in poor-quality workspaces. Sub-partitions further reduce the limited space. This adversely affects the productivity and well-being of employees.
Features of the New Parliament
Important features of the new Parliament are as follows:
- Increased Capacity
- The new Parliament building will be able to accommodate 888 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha, three times the capacity of the current Lok Sabha.
- The new Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats, whereas the old one had only 245 seats.
- Joint sessions of Parliament can now accommodate up to 1,272 seats, facilitating inclusive and robust democratic proceedings.
- Optimum Space Utilization
- The new Parliament building’s triangular shape ensures efficient utilization of space.
- Modern Technological Facilities
- To enhance the technological capabilities of the House, each MP’s seat in the new Parliament House will have a multimedia display in front of it.
- The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers will have digitised voting system, well-engineered acoustics, and state-of-the-art audio-visual systems to ensure effective legislative proceedings.
- The Ministers’ chambers can be accessed through corridors running parallel to the triangular boundary of the building.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities
- A state-of-the-art Constitutional Hall serves as the heart of Indian democracy, placing citizens at the center of governance.
- The building also offers ultra-modern office spaces equipped with cutting-edge communication technology, promoting efficiency and security.
- Eco Friendly and Sustainable
- The new Sansad Bhavan stands as a “Platinum-rated Green Building,” reflecting India’s dedication to environmental sustainability.
- It uses green construction materials and incorporate devices to save 30 percent electricity consumption.
- Rainwater harvesting and solar power generation systems will be implemented to promote renewable energy sources.
- Cultural Integration
- The new Parliament building integrates the vibrance and diversity of modern India, incorporating regional arts, crafts, and cultural elements.
- Peacock and Lotus Flower Theme
- The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the new Parliament House will showcase distinct themes.
- The Lok Sabha will incorporate the national bird, the Peacock, while the Rajya Sabha will feature the national flower, the Lotus.
- Inclusivity for All
- Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the new Parliament building prioritizes divyang (differently-abled) individuals.
- It ensures that people with disabilities can move freely within the premises, fostering inclusivity and equal participation.
Parliamentary Democracy & Parliamentary System of Govt.
- The nominal executive is the head of state e.g. President while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
- Eg: India, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, Portugal etc.
- The role of President or monarch is primarily ceremonial and the Prime Minister along with the cabinet wields effective power.
- The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary form of government, both at the Center and in the States.
- Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system of government at the Union level and Articles 163 and 164 contain provisions with regard to the States.
- Executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and Acts.
Executive Democracy & Executive System of Govt.
- There is only one executive. In this system, the President is both head of state and government, e.g. USA, South Korea etc.
- The executive is not responsible to the legislature for its policies and Acts, and is constitutionally independent of the legislature in respect of its term of office.
Performance of Parliament Till Now
https://youtu.be/xEQEse92QHc