'Indian Parliament took measures to mitigate the risk of its sittings getting disrupted by any future emergencies'

Additional Secretary to Rajya Sabha KS Somashekhar made these remarks during the meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament organised on the sidelines of the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in Geneva, Switzerland

New Delhi: Additional Secretary to Rajya Sabha KS Somashekhar has said that the Indian Parliament has taken comprehensive measures to mitigate the risk of its sittings getting disrupted by any future emergencies whether health-related, natural or security-driven.

He was speaking in the General Debate on "What measures have been put in place to mitigate the risk of future event preventing your Parliament from sitting?" at the meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament organised on the sidelines of the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19-23 October 2025.

He highlighted India’s digital-first approach to parliamentary continuity and resilience, emphasizing technical upgrades, digital platforms, robust cybersecurity, expanded physical infrastructure, and advanced surveillance.

He stated that these initiatives ensure Parliament to operate seamlessly, strengthening the resilience of representative bodies and maintaining uninterrupted legislative business, even in challenging circumstances, thereby upholding governance and democratic principles.

The 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19-23 October 2025.

"Through technological upgrades, digital platforms, robust cyber security, expanded physical infrastructure and advanced surveillance, Parliament can continue its work seamlessly. These initiatives have strengthened the resilience of our representative bodies, ensuring that legislative business is carried out without interruption, even in challenging circumstances upholding the principles of governance and public service that form the foundation of our democracy, " he said.

"COVID-19 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to the functioning of democratic institutions across the world, including the Indian Parliament. Drawing lessons from this experience, several measures have been institutionalized to ensure that future emergencies whether health-related, natural or security-driven do not prevent the Parliament from fulfilling its constitutional duties, " he said.

On cybersecurity and digital resilience, he said, "By securing its digital infrastructure with encrypted communication, secure cloud storage and multi-layered firewalls, Parliament ensures that its legislative data remains protected and accessible even during emergencies. This robust cyber resilience allows secure communication and uninterrupted decision-making, ensuring that the Parliament continues to function effectively despite cyber attacks or other disruptions."

The new Parliament building, designed with expanded space/increased floor area allows for greater physical distancing, ensuring that sittings can continue even during public health emergencies necessitating physical distancing, Somashekhar said.