PM unveils National Emblem on the roof of New Parliament Building

Context

The Prime Minister has unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the New Parliament Building.

About the National Emblem

• Cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the new Parliament building, the 6.5-metre-high National Emblem is made of bronze, and weighs 9,500 kg. 
• A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the Emblem.
• The concept sketch and process of casting of the National Emblem on the roof of the building went through eight different stages of preparation from clay modelling/ computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing.
  

About Architectural style

• Bimal Patel of HCP Designs, Ahmedabad, is the architect in charge of the building, which is triangular in shape, and incorporates architectural styles from around India. 
• The building is coming up adjacent to the existing Parliament complex, and is of almost the same size. 
• The building is designed to be earthquake-resistant.

Completion deadline

• The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the Prime Minister in December 2020, nearly a century after the foundation for the existing Parliament was laid by the Duke of Connaught on February 12, 1921.
• The new Parliament building is likely to be completed by October-November 2022”, in time to hold the winter session this year, to coincide with the 75th year of India’s independence.