In his first Independence Day speech, President Ram Nath Kovind said "New India" must include that integral humanist component that is in our DNA.
It has defined our country and our civilisation, he added.
He also said there is no place for poverty in "New India".
In that vein, he invoked many of Prime Minister Modi's pet topics.
Apart from the idea of a "New India", he talked about the Swachh Bharat programme, citizens giving up their LPG subsidy, paying their taxes, and demonetisation.
"We are indebted to those who laid down there lives for our independence," he said.
"It is time that we must take inspiration from those who gave their lives for the nation and move forward," he added.
While the government has started the Swachch Bharat programme, he said, it is the duty of each one of us to keep the nation clean.
He added that the government can make, implement and strengthen laws but it is everyone's duty to abide by them.
He said he was glad the people of the country had happily accepted GST.
And he added that it was the responsibility of each one of us to promote a sense of pride in paying our taxes.