The Central Hall

The Central Hall

Subject : History

Section: Art and Culture

• It is a place of historical importance.
• The transfer of power on the midnight of 14-15 August, 1947 from British to Indian hands took place in this Hall.
• The Indian Constitution was also framed in the Central Hall.
• The Central Hall is circular in shape and its dome which is 98 ft. (29.87 meters) in diameter is one of the most magnificent domes in the world.
• The Central Hall was originally used as the Library of the erstwhile Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. In 1946, it was converted and refurnished into the Constituent Assembly Hall.
• The Constituent Assembly met there from 9 December, 1946 to 24 January, 1950.
• At present, the Central Hall is used for holding Joint Sittings of the two Houses.
• At the commencement of the first Session after each General Election to Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first Session of each year, the President addresses Members of both the Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Central Hall.
• When the Houses are in Session, the Central Hall is used by Members for informal discussions among themselves.
• The Central Hall is also used for special occasions when the Members of Parliament are addressed by distinguished Heads of State of other countries.
• The Hall is also equipped with Simultaneous Interpretation System. The Hall has been upgraded with digital sound system. Overlooking the dais in the Centre of the Central Hall is the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi painted by Sir Oswald Birley and donated to the nation by Shri A.P. Pattani, a Member of the Constituent Assembly of India. Gilded panels on the walls and arches on either side of the dais carry portraits of the following distinguished national leaders: —
  • Dadabhai Naoroji
  • Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  • Lala Lajpat Rai
  • Motilal Nehru
  • Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
  • Rabindranath Tagore
  • Smt. Sarojini Naidu
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
  • Dr. Rajendra Prasad
  • Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Subhas Chandra Bose
  • C. Rajagopalachari
  • Smt. Indira Gandhi
  • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
  • Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
  • Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
  • Rajiv Gandhi
  • Lal Bahadur Shastri
  • Chaudhary Charan Singh • Morarji Desai
  • Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
  • Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
• There are also 12 gilded emblems on the wall of the Hall representing the 12 Provinces of undivided India. Surrounding the Central Hall are six Lobbies which are suitably covered and furnished. One Lounge is reserved for the exclusive use of lady Members, one for First Aid Post and one for Panel of Chairpersons of Lok Sabha. The Central Hall has six Galleries on its first floor. At the time of Joint Sittings of the two Houses, the two Galleries which are towards the right of the dais are occupied by press correspondents, the one facing the dais is set apart for distinguished visitors and in the other three, the guests of the Members of the two Houses are accommodated.