Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday, 12 June 2026 drew attention to the construction of India's new Parliament building, describing it as having been built 'in record-time' during the COVID-19 period. The post, shared on his official X account, comes as the building continues to serve as the seat of India's legislature following its inauguration.

Context

Rijiju's post stated: 'The grand new Parliament building of India was built in record-time, during COVID-19 period!' The remark highlights the government's position that the project was completed swiftly despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which imposed severe restrictions on construction activity and labour movement across India between 2020 and 2022.

The new Parliament building was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 28 May 2023, replacing the colonial-era structure that had housed India's legislature since 1927. The new complex features significantly expanded seating capacity for both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Policy Backdrop

The new Parliament building is a central component of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, a multi-phase overhaul of New Delhi's administrative precinct stretching along Rajpath (now Kartavya Path). Cabinet approval for the broader Central Vista redevelopment was granted in 2019, setting in motion one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in the capital in decades.

The project drew both strong public support and sustained criticism during its planning and construction phases. Proponents argued it was necessary to modernise ageing infrastructure and provide a purpose-built legislative facility; critics raised concerns about heritage preservation and the timing of construction during the pandemic. The Supreme Court of India upheld the project's clearances after legal challenges.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the new building are Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, who now operate from a facility designed with contemporary infrastructure, enhanced accessibility, and greater capacity to accommodate a larger House following delimitation. The building is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual and digital systems intended to modernise legislative proceedings.

For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the new Parliament building has become a symbol of the government's infrastructure delivery credentials. Rijiju's post is consistent with a broader political messaging pattern that positions flagship projects — completed on schedule or ahead of it — as evidence of governance efficiency, particularly under adverse conditions such as the pandemic.

What's Next

Attention now turns to the remaining phases of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which include new office blocks for the executive and other government functions along the central precinct. The operational integration of the new Parliament building into full legislative use — across budget sessions, monsoon sessions, and special sittings — will be closely watched as a measure of its functional success beyond the symbolic significance of its inauguration.