The building was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and was constructed between 1921 and 1927.

[7] The foundation stone was laid by HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, in February 1921.

On 18 January 1927, Sir Bhupendra Nath Mitra, a Member of the Governor-General's Executive Council, in charge of the Department of Industries and Labour, invited Lord Irwin, then Viceroy of India, to inaugurate the building.

The former parliament is surrounded by large gardens and the perimeter is fenced off by sandstone railings (jali).

[14] The current building is planned to be converted into a Museum of Democracy after the new Parliament House becomes operational.

[16] In 2012, a committee was assembled by the then Speaker, Mira Kumar, to suggest and assess several alternatives to the usage of the building.

[21][needs update] In a speech held on 19 September 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed that the building be renamed Samvidhan Sadan ("Constitution House").