President Droupadi Murmu undertook a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Air Force Station in Haryana’s Ambala.


Rafale Jet Historic Moment: President Murmu Takes Off, Calls It 'Unforgettable' Experience

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet.

In his farewell address to the nation, Kovind emphasised that the country is getting equipped to make the 21st century "the century of India" and highlighted the importance of healthcare and education which along with economic reforms, he said, would enable citizens to pursue happiness by discovering their potential.

President-elect Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as the country's 15th President on Monday.

In his last televised address to the nation, Kovind hailed India's democracy, saying it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny.

The president said the nation is working with the objective of providing better housing, and access to drinking water and electricity for every family.

"This change has been made possible by the momentum of development and good governance which knows no discrimination," he said.

He said, "The pandemic has underlined the need to further improve the public healthcare infrastructure. I am glad that the government has accorded top priority to this task.

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"Once education and healthcare are in place, economic reforms will let citizens find the best course for their lives, he said, adding that "I firmly believe that our country is getting equipped to make the 21st century, the century of India".

He said the National Education Policy will go a long way in making it possible for young Indians to connect with their heritage and also find their feet in the twenty-first century.

The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations.

"Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. We must take care of our environment, our land, air and water for the sake of our children.

"In our daily lives and routine choices, we must be more careful to protect our trees, rivers, seas and mountains as well as all other living beings. As the first citizen, if I have to give one advice to my fellow citizens, it has to be this," he added.

President Kovind also hailed the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, saying they must not be mistaken as abstractions beacause they "are lofty, noble and uplifting".

"Our history, not only of modern times but also from ancient times, reminds us that they are real; that they can be realised, and indeed have been realised in different eras.

"Our ancestors and founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service. We only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking," he said.

And what do such ideals mean for a common citizen today? Kovind asked.

"I believe the chief goal is to help them discover the joy of living. For that, first of all, their basic necessities must be taken care of," the president emphasised.

During his address, the president went down memory lane to highlight the inherent power of vibrant democratic institutions.

Kovind recalled his earlier days when the country had just achieved independence and said, "There was a fresh wave of energy to rebuild the country; there were new dreams. I too had a dream, that one day I would be able to participate in a meaningful way in this nation-building exercise".

"A young boy living in a mud house could not have any idea about the highest Constitutional office of the Republic. But it is a testament to the strength of India's democracy that it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny.

"If that Ram Nath Kovind from village Paraunkh is addressing you today, it is solely thanks to the inherent power of our vibrant democratic institutions," he said.

In the speech on the eve of his completing five-year tenure as the president, Kovind said the founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service, and "we only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking".

Kovind said the formal map for the democratic path "we all have been navigating was drafted by the Constituent Assembly" and the Constitution they prepared, with invaluable contributions from each of them, has been our guiding beacon.

"Values enshrined in it have been part of the Indian ethos since time immemorial," the outgoing president said and quoted Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's concluding remarks in the Constituent Assembly where he had pointed out the distinction between political and social democracy.

"What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life.

"These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy," Kovind quoted Ambedkar as having said.

President Kovind said in modern times, the glorious journey of the country commenced with the awakening of nationalist feelings during colonial rule and the launch of the freedom struggle.

"There were many uprisings across the country in the nineteenth century. The names of many of the heroes who brought hopes of new dawn have long been forgotten.

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"Contributions of some of them have come to be appreciated only in recent times. Around the turn of the century, the various struggles were coming together, creating a new consciousness," he said.

When Gandhiji returned to the motherland in 1915, the nationalist fervour was gaining momentum, Kovind said, mentioning Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Syama Prasad Mookerjee among others.

"From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay? nowhere in the history of humankind have so many great minds come together for a common cause," he said.

Expressing deep gratitude to all fellow citizens and elected representatives, Kovind said he has been inspired and energised by interactions with farmers and workers from small villages, teachers shaping young minds, artists enriching our legacy, scholars investigating various facets of our country and business people creating wealth for the nation.

He also mentioned doctors and nurses serving the people, scientists and engineers engaged in nation-building, judges and advocates contributing to the justice delivery system of the country and civil servants who run the administration smoothly

"'Our social workers actively connecting every social segment with development, preachers and masters of all sects who maintain the flow of spirituality in Indian society ? you all have continuously helped me discharge my duties," he said.

"In short, I received full cooperation, support and blessings from all sections of society. I will especially cherish the occasions when I had an opportunity to meet our brave jawans of the armed forces, para-military forces and the police. Their patriotic zeal is as amazing, as it is inspiring," the president said.

Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora during his visits abroad, Kovind said he found their love and concern for the homeland very touching.

"All these re-affirm the belief that the nation is after all composed of its citizens; and with each of you striving to make India better and better, the nation's great future is secure," he said.

Kovind said that among the most memorable moments of his life has been visiting his home during his term and touching the feet of his teachers at Kanpur to seek their blessings.

"This year, the prime minister also honoured my village Paraunkh with his visit. This connection with our roots has been the essence of India. I would request the younger generation to continue this tradition of staying connected with their village or town, their schools and teachers," the president said.

Asserting that he has discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability and has been conscious of being a successor to great icons like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Kovind said, "Still, whenever I was in doubt, I turned to Gandhiji and his famous talisman".

"His advice of recalling the face of the poorest man and asking myself if the step I am about to take will be of any use to him. At the risk of repeating myself, I will urge you to contemplate Gandhiji's life and teachings at least for a few minutes every day," he said.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. In his farewell address to the nation, Kovind emphasised that the country is getting equipped to make the 21st century "the century of India" and highlighted the importance of healthcare and education which along with economic reforms, he said, would enable citizens to pursue happiness by discovering their potential. President-elect Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as the country's 15th President on Monday. In his last televised address to the nation, Kovind hailed India's democracy, saying it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny. The president said the nation is working with the objective of providing better housing, and access to drinking water and electricity for every family. "This change has been made possible by the momentum of development and good governance which knows no discrimination," he said. He said, "The pandemic has underlined the need to further improve the public healthcare infrastructure. I am glad that the government has accorded top priority to this task. Also read | Three dead in shooting at Philippines university graduation ceremony "Once education and healthcare are in place, economic reforms will let citizens find the best course for their lives, he said, adding that "I firmly believe that our country is getting equipped to make the 21st century, the century of India". He said the National Education Policy will go a long way in making it possible for young Indians to connect with their heritage and also find their feet in the twenty-first century. The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations. "Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. We must take care of our environment, our land, air and water for the sake of our children. "In our daily lives and routine choices, we must be more careful to protect our trees, rivers, seas and mountains as well as all other living beings. As the first citizen, if I have to give one advice to my fellow citizens, it has to be this," he added. President Kovind also hailed the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, saying they must not be mistaken as abstractions beacause they "are lofty, noble and uplifting". "Our history, not only of modern times but also from ancient times, reminds us that they are real; that they can be realised, and indeed have been realised in different eras. "Our ancestors and founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service. We only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking," he said. And what do such ideals mean for a common citizen today? Kovind asked. "I believe the chief goal is to help them discover the joy of living. For that, first of all, their basic necessities must be taken care of," the president emphasised. During his address, the president went down memory lane to highlight the inherent power of vibrant democratic institutions. Kovind recalled his earlier days when the country had just achieved independence and said, "There was a fresh wave of energy to rebuild the country; there were new dreams. I too had a dream, that one day I would be able to participate in a meaningful way in this nation-building exercise". "A young boy living in a mud house could not have any idea about the highest Constitutional office of the Republic. But it is a testament to the strength of India's democracy that it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny. "If that Ram Nath Kovind from village Paraunkh is addressing you today, it is solely thanks to the inherent power of our vibrant democratic institutions," he said. In the speech on the eve of his completing five-year tenure as the president, Kovind said the founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service, and "we only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking". Kovind said the formal map for the democratic path "we all have been navigating was drafted by the Constituent Assembly" and the Constitution they prepared, with invaluable contributions from each of them, has been our guiding beacon. "Values enshrined in it have been part of the Indian ethos since time immemorial," the outgoing president said and quoted Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's concluding remarks in the Constituent Assembly where he had pointed out the distinction between political and social democracy. "What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. "These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy," Kovind quoted Ambedkar as having said. President Kovind said in modern times, the glorious journey of the country commenced with the awakening of nationalist feelings during colonial rule and the launch of the freedom struggle. "There were many uprisings across the country in the nineteenth century. The names of many of the heroes who brought hopes of new dawn have long been forgotten. Also read | Missiles destroyed Ukrainian military infrastructure in Odessa, claims Russia "Contributions of some of them have come to be appreciated only in recent times. Around the turn of the century, the various struggles were coming together, creating a new consciousness," he said. When Gandhiji returned to the motherland in 1915, the nationalist fervour was gaining momentum, Kovind said, mentioning Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Syama Prasad Mookerjee among others. "From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay? nowhere in the history of humankind have so many great minds come together for a common cause," he said. Expressing deep gratitude to all fellow citizens and elected representatives, Kovind said he has been inspired and energised by interactions with farmers and workers from small villages, teachers shaping young minds, artists enriching our legacy, scholars investigating various facets of our country and business people creating wealth for the nation. He also mentioned doctors and nurses serving the people, scientists and engineers engaged in nation-building, judges and advocates contributing to the justice delivery system of the country and civil servants who run the administration smoothly "'Our social workers actively connecting every social segment with development, preachers and masters of all sects who maintain the flow of spirituality in Indian society ? you all have continuously helped me discharge my duties," he said. "In short, I received full cooperation, support and blessings from all sections of society. I will especially cherish the occasions when I had an opportunity to meet our brave jawans of the armed forces, para-military forces and the police. Their patriotic zeal is as amazing, as it is inspiring," the president said. Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora during his visits abroad, Kovind said he found their love and concern for the homeland very touching. "All these re-affirm the belief that the nation is after all composed of its citizens; and with each of you striving to make India better and better, the nation's great future is secure," he said. Kovind said that among the most memorable moments of his life has been visiting his home during his term and touching the feet of his teachers at Kanpur to seek their blessings. "This year, the prime minister also honoured my village Paraunkh with his visit. This connection with our roots has been the essence of India. I would request the younger generation to continue this tradition of staying connected with their village or town, their schools and teachers," the president said. Asserting that he has discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability and has been conscious of being a successor to great icons like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Kovind said, "Still, whenever I was in doubt, I turned to Gandhiji and his famous talisman". "His advice of recalling the face of the poorest man and asking myself if the step I am about to take will be of any use to him. At the risk of repeating myself, I will urge you to contemplate Gandhiji's life and teachings at least for a few minutes every day," he said.

Protect environment for future generations: President Kovind in his farewell message to nation

For the first time in Indian history, a tribal leader is going to helm the top constitutional post.&nbsp;Droupadi Murmu, the ruling BJP candidate, was elected as the 15th President of India on Thursday by securing&nbsp;over 60 per cent of the total vote value. Opposition Yashwant Sinha conceded defeat after three rounds of counting. The President-elect will take oath on July 25.

Incumbent Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure is set to end on July 24 and the next president will take oath on July 25. Nearly 4,800 MP and MLAs cast their votes on Monday to elect the next president of India.

Who is Murmu?

The 64-year-old Murmu hails from India’s poorest but resource-rich state of Odisha. She spent her childhood in Mayurbhanj district and used to work as a teacher.

She earlier served as the governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She was the longest-serving governor of the mineral-rich state which came into existence in 2000.

Her political journey began when she was elected as a&nbsp;councillor from Rairangpur in 1997. She then contested successfully on BJP tickets and became&nbsp;MLA from Rairangpur in 2000 and then in 2009.

From 2000 to 2002, the 64-year-old was made minister of state with independent charge for Commerce and Transport in the Odisha government, which was run by a coalition of BJP and the regional party BJD. Then from 2002 and 2004, she was given the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development portfolio.

She had also served as the vice-president of BJP’s Scheduled Tribes Morcha in Odisha between 2006 and 2009 and was elected party president in the Mayurbhanj district several times.

Murmu’s family details

Murmu has a tragic personal life. She lost both her sons and husband. She has a daughter.

What is the significance of her elevation?

Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe of Odisha. The tribe is spread over four states and is India's largest scheduled tribe after the Bhils and Gonds.

Her elevation to the top post is being perceived as the triumph of tribal empowerment and the community’s political aspirations, which have&nbsp;long been neglected.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

For the first time in Indian history, a tribal leader is going to helm the top constitutional post. Droupadi Murmu, the ruling BJP candidate, was elected as the 15th President of India on Thursday by securing over 60 per cent of the total vote value.

For the first time in Indian history, a tribal leader is going to helm the top constitutional post. Droupadi Murmu, the ruling BJP candidate, was elected as the 15th President of India on Thursday by securing over 60 per cent of the total vote value. Opposition Yashwant Sinha conceded defeat after three rounds of counting. The President-elect will take oath on July 25. Incumbent Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure is set to end on July 24 and the next president will take oath on July 25. Nearly 4,800 MP and MLAs cast their votes on Monday to elect the next president of India. Who is Murmu? The 64-year-old Murmu hails from India’s poorest but resource-rich state of Odisha. She spent her childhood in Mayurbhanj district and used to work as a teacher. She earlier served as the governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She was the longest-serving governor of the mineral-rich state which came into existence in 2000. Her political journey began when she was elected as a councillor from Rairangpur in 1997. She then contested successfully on BJP tickets and became MLA from Rairangpur in 2000 and then in 2009. From 2000 to 2002, the 64-year-old was made minister of state with independent charge for Commerce and Transport in the Odisha government, which was run by a coalition of BJP and the regional party BJD. Then from 2002 and 2004, she was given the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development portfolio. She had also served as the vice-president of BJP’s Scheduled Tribes Morcha in Odisha between 2006 and 2009 and was elected party president in the Mayurbhanj district several times. Murmu’s family details Murmu has a tragic personal life. She lost both her sons and husband. She has a daughter. What is the significance of her elevation? Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe of Odisha. The tribe is spread over four states and is India's largest scheduled tribe after the Bhils and Gonds. Her elevation to the top post is being perceived as the triumph of tribal empowerment and the community’s political aspirations, which have long been neglected. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Who is Droupadi Murmu, the tribal leader who is India’s 15th president?

India’s president Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved three controversial farm bills that the parliament had recently cleared.

One of the three bills has triggered nationwide protests by farmers, who say the legislation will pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices and leave them at the mercy of big private buyers.

Thousands of farmers in India blocked roads and railway tracks on Friday in a protest against the new legislation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-new-farm-bills-whats-good-what-may-not-be-330262">Also read |&nbsp;India's new farm bills: What's good, what may not be</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has defended the bills as reforms to help India’s vast agriculture sector get rid of antiquated laws and allow farmers to sell to institutional buyers and big retailers such as Walmart.

The government insists the new rules will give farmers the option to sell their produce to private buyers while it would still purchase staples such as rice and wheat at guaranteed prices.

The protests have remained peaceful but most growers, who hit the streets in large numbers, did not wear face masks despite a daily surge in coronavirus cases in India.

(with inputs from agencies)

India’s president Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved three controversial farm bills that the parliament had recently cleared. One of the three bills has triggered nationwide protests by farmers, who say the legislation will pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices and leave them at the mercy of big private buyers.

India’s president Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved three controversial farm bills that the parliament had recently cleared. One of the three bills has triggered nationwide protests by farmers, who say the legislation will pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices and leave them at the mercy of big private buyers. Thousands of farmers in India blocked roads and railway tracks on Friday in a protest against the new legislation. Also read | India's new farm bills: What's good, what may not be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has defended the bills as reforms to help India’s vast agriculture sector get rid of antiquated laws and allow farmers to sell to institutional buyers and big retailers such as Walmart. The government insists the new rules will give farmers the option to sell their produce to private buyers while it would still purchase staples such as rice and wheat at guaranteed prices. The protests have remained peaceful but most growers, who hit the streets in large numbers, did not wear face masks despite a daily surge in coronavirus cases in India. (with inputs from agencies)

India's president approves three controversial farm bills

Watch how NDA also gives letter of support to President Kovind to form govt. Watch this video for the complete details.

NDA gives letter of support to President Kovind to form govt

Watch how PM Modi meets President Ram Nath Kovind to stake claim to form a new govt. Watch this video for complete details.

PM Modi meets President Kovind to stake claim to form govt

BJP&#39;s Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind was sworn in as India&#39;s 14th president on Tuesday,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/who-is-ram-nath-kovind-indias-new-president-18263"> just the second Dalit leader to be elected head of state</a> after KR Narayanan.

In his<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/read-full-text-of-ram-nath-kovinds-first-speech-as-president-18269"> address to Parliament</a> after his swearing-in, the new president said he felt privileged to walk on the same path as Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr &nbsp;Abdul Kalam and Pranab Mukherjee.

&quot;I will stand by and represent all 125 crore fellow Indians. I understand the massive responsibility that this is. I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr.Radhakrishnan, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Pranab da. I hope to live up to that greatness,&quot; he said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/read-full-text-of-ram-nath-kovinds-first-speech-as-president-18269">In his speech</a>, President Kovind emphasised the importance of upholding India&#39;s diversity.&nbsp;

&quot;Coming here to central hall has brought back so many memories. I have been to this central hall and have often had discussions with many of you. We often agreed and disagreed.&nbsp;But we learnt to respect each other and that is the beauty of democracy.&quot;

We are different but we are one and united. These are the traditional values and there is no contradiction or alternative opinion about it.&quot;

The 71-year-old president, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, said he had been brought up in a mud-built house in a small village in the state.

&quot;I am thankful to you all for giving me the responsibility to be the President of India... I come from a humble background. The journey has been long.

I grew up in a mud house, in a small village. My journey has been a long one, and yet this journey is hardly mine alone. It is so telling of our nation and our society also. For all its problems, it follows that basic mantra given to us in the Preamble to the Constitution &ndash; of ensuring Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and I will always continue to follow this basic mantra,&quot;&nbsp; Mr Kovind said in his address.

He said that while the 21st century would be an Indian century, there was a need to build India as a &quot;moral exemplar&quot; and of combining tradition and technology.

&quot;We would be completing 70 years of our Independence soon. We are also well into the second decade of the 21st century, a century that so many of us intuitively believe will be an Indian century, guided and shaped by India and its accomplishments. We need to build an India that is an economic leader as well as a moral exemplar. For us, those two touchstones can never be separate. They are and must forever be linked,&quot; Ram Nath Kovind said.

&quot;The India of the 21st century will be one that is in conformity with our ancient values as well as compliant with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. There is no dichotomy there, no question of choice. We must combine tradition and technology, the wisdom of an age-old Bharat and the science of a contemporary India,&quot; President Kovind said.

Citing the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyay, President Kovind stressed on the need for building an egalitarian society.

&quot;We need to sculpt a robust, high growth economy, an educated, ethical and shared community, and an egalitarian society, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay ji. These are integral to our sense of humanism. This is the India of our dreams, an India that will provide equality of opportunities. This will be the India of the 21st century,&quot; he said.

After his address in Parliament, President Kovind was given a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was then given a tour of the&nbsp;Raisina Hill residence by outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee.

The new President subsequently left for 10, Rajaji Marg, the new residence of Pranab Mukherjee and the received former President there.

Accompanied by his wife, President Kovind paid his respects at Mahatma Gandhi&#39;s memorial Rajghat in the Indian capital before proceeding to Parliament&#39;s Central Hall for his swearing-in ceremony.

He was driven&nbsp;to Parliament in a ceremonial horse-drawn chariot.

A former lawyer and governor of Bihar, Kovind won the presidency after defeating Opposition&#39;s Meira Kumar, garnering more than 65 per cent of the vote of lawmakers of Parliament and state assemblies.

A politician with a previously low profile, he is also a member of the Hindu nationalist organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

His appointment is being viewed as a move to consolidate the Dalit vote for the BJP ahead of the 2019&nbsp;general elections.

Ram Nath Kovind is just the second Dalit leader to be elected head of state after KR Narayanan.

BJP's Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind was sworn in as India's 14th president on Tuesday, just the second Dalit leader to be elected head of state after KR Narayanan. In his address to Parliament after his swearing-in, the new president said he felt privileged to walk on the same path as Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr Abdul Kalam and Pranab Mukherjee. "I will stand by and represent all 125 crore fellow Indians. I understand the massive responsibility that this is. I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr.Radhakrishnan, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Pranab da. I hope to live up to that greatness," he said. In his speech, President Kovind emphasised the importance of upholding India's diversity. "Coming here to central hall has brought back so many memories. I have been to this central hall and have often had discussions with many of you. We often agreed and disagreed. But we learnt to respect each other and that is the beauty of democracy." We are different but we are one and united. These are the traditional values and there is no contradiction or alternative opinion about it." The 71-year-old president, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, said he had been brought up in a mud-built house in a small village in the state. "I am thankful to you all for giving me the responsibility to be the President of India... I come from a humble background. The journey has been long. I grew up in a mud house, in a small village. My journey has been a long one, and yet this journey is hardly mine alone. It is so telling of our nation and our society also. For all its problems, it follows that basic mantra given to us in the Preamble to the Constitution – of ensuring Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and I will always continue to follow this basic mantra," Mr Kovind said in his address. He said that while the 21st century would be an Indian century, there was a need to build India as a "moral exemplar" and of combining tradition and technology. "We would be completing 70 years of our Independence soon. We are also well into the second decade of the 21st century, a century that so many of us intuitively believe will be an Indian century, guided and shaped by India and its accomplishments. We need to build an India that is an economic leader as well as a moral exemplar. For us, those two touchstones can never be separate. They are and must forever be linked," Ram Nath Kovind said. "The India of the 21st century will be one that is in conformity with our ancient values as well as compliant with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. There is no dichotomy there, no question of choice. We must combine tradition and technology, the wisdom of an age-old Bharat and the science of a contemporary India," President Kovind said. Citing the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyay, President Kovind stressed on the need for building an egalitarian society. "We need to sculpt a robust, high growth economy, an educated, ethical and shared community, and an egalitarian society, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay ji. These are integral to our sense of humanism. This is the India of our dreams, an India that will provide equality of opportunities. This will be the India of the 21st century," he said. After his address in Parliament, President Kovind was given a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was then given a tour of the Raisina Hill residence by outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee. The new President subsequently left for 10, Rajaji Marg, the new residence of Pranab Mukherjee and the received former President there. Accompanied by his wife, President Kovind paid his respects at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat in the Indian capital before proceeding to Parliament's Central Hall for his swearing-in ceremony. He was driven to Parliament in a ceremonial horse-drawn chariot. A former lawyer and governor of Bihar, Kovind won the presidency after defeating Opposition's Meira Kumar, garnering more than 65 per cent of the vote of lawmakers of Parliament and state assemblies. A politician with a previously low profile, he is also a member of the Hindu nationalist organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His appointment is being viewed as a move to consolidate the Dalit vote for the BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Ram Nath Kovind sworn in as India's 14th president, says every Indian is a nation builder

The voting process to elect India&#39;s next President has ended.

The verdict will be out on July 20.&nbsp;

Voting began today to elect India&#39;s 14th President at Parliament House in the Indian capital, New Delhi, and all state legislative assembly secretariats.

The two<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/presidential-election-numbers-favour-nda-candidate-ram-nath-kovind-17974"> contenders for the presidential race </a>are the ruling NDA&#39;s Ram Nath Kovind and Opposition nominee Meira Kumar.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah cast their votes at 10 am in Parliament.&nbsp;

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> casting his vote to elect the next <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/President?src=hash">#President</a> of India. <a href="https://t.co/Mrx6n4VPi7">pic.twitter.com/Mrx6n4VPi7</a>
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BJP President Amit Shah cast his vote at the Parliament for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/kUexuWCaDm">pic.twitter.com/kUexuWCaDm</a>
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The numbers, however, are reported to be in Kovind&#39;s&nbsp;favour. The NDA has 537,683 votes, including the Shiv Sena, and the shortage is about 12,000 votes.

On Monday, members queued up in&nbsp;State Legislative Assembly Secretariats across the country to exercise their vote.

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Delhi: Members of Parliament line up to cast their votes for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/leXCBWvfpH">pic.twitter.com/leXCBWvfpH</a>
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Presidential Election 2017: MLAs queue up at Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly to cast their votes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/vUVBAEthNA">pic.twitter.com/vUVBAEthNA</a>
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Guwahati: Voting for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> underway at Assam Legislative Assembly; CM Sarbananda Sonowal also cast his vote. <a href="https://t.co/33x7Xn5KGS">pic.twitter.com/33x7Xn5KGS</a>
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DMK&#39;s MK Stalin also cast his vote at the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the morning.&nbsp;

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DMK working president MK Stalin casts his vote at Tamil Nadu Assembly for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/bVqKnVUkYN">pic.twitter.com/bVqKnVUkYN</a>
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Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrives at MP Assembly to cast his vote for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentialPoll2017?src=hash">#PresidentialPoll2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/JAcN6CmsXd">pic.twitter.com/JAcN6CmsXd</a>
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PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, chief of the ruling BJP, have cast their votes

The voting process to elect India's next President has ended. The verdict will be out on July 20. Voting began today to elect India's 14th President at Parliament House in the Indian capital, New Delhi, and all state legislative assembly secretariats. The two contenders for the presidential race are the ruling NDA's Ram Nath Kovind and Opposition nominee Meira Kumar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah cast their votes at 10 am in Parliament. PM @narendramodi casting his vote to elect the next #President of India. pic.twitter.com/Mrx6n4VPi7 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2017 × BJP President Amit Shah cast his vote at the Parliament for #PresidentialPoll2017 pic.twitter.com/kUexuWCaDm — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 × The numbers, however, are reported to be in Kovind's favour. The NDA has 537,683 votes, including the Shiv Sena, and the shortage is about 12,000 votes. On Monday, members queued up in State Legislative Assembly Secretariats across the country to exercise their vote. Delhi: Members of Parliament line up to cast their votes for #PresidentialPoll2017 pic.twitter.com/leXCBWvfpH — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 × Presidential Election 2017: MLAs queue up at Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly to cast their votes #PresidentialPoll2017 pic.twitter.com/vUVBAEthNA — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 × Guwahati: Voting for #PresidentialPoll2017 underway at Assam Legislative Assembly; CM Sarbananda Sonowal also cast his vote. pic.twitter.com/33x7Xn5KGS — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 × DMK's MK Stalin also cast his vote at the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the morning. DMK working president MK Stalin casts his vote at Tamil Nadu Assembly for #PresidentialPoll2017 pic.twitter.com/bVqKnVUkYN — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 × Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrives at MP Assembly to cast his vote for #PresidentialPoll2017 pic.twitter.com/JAcN6CmsXd — ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017 ×

India Presidential election: Voting ends, results on July 20

India&#39;s federal government may be goading the country to go cashless and instead use e-wallets or bank cards but presidential candidates will have to pay their nomination amount in hard cash.

There are two ways a candidate can pay the nomination amount.

The person can either deposit the amount with the returning officer while filing their nomination papers or pay the money to the Reserve bank of India, the country&#39;s central bank.

The last day of nomination is June 28.

So far, 15 people have submitted their papers for the country&#39;s top post, of which seven have been disqualified due to lack of proper documents.

The remaining candidates are also liable to be rejected at the time of scrutiny as none had the signatures of 50 proposers and as many seconders from the list of electors -- essential for a valid nomination.

Elected members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and of state legislative assemblies are the electors.

The presidential poll is scheduled to be held on July 17 from 10 am to 5 pm (Indian Standard Time) while the counting of votes is on July 20.

The president of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of national- and state-level lawmakers.

This year&#39;s presidential polls is likely to be a close affair, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties led by Congress are looking to drum up support for their chosen candidates.

Although nothing is confirmed,&nbsp;Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, tribal leader Draupadi Murmu and &#39;Metro man&#39;&nbsp;E Sreedharan are possible BJP candidates.

The Congress&nbsp;and other opposition parties might put forward&nbsp;former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar&#39;s names for the presidential polls.

(With inputs from ANI)

&nbsp;

Presidential candidates will have to pay Rs 15,000 in hard cash to be in the reckoning

India's federal government may be goading the country to go cashless and instead use e-wallets or bank cards but presidential candidates will have to pay their nomination amount in hard cash. There are two ways a candidate can pay the nomination amount. The person can either deposit the amount with the returning officer while filing their nomination papers or pay the money to the Reserve bank of India, the country's central bank. The last day of nomination is June 28. So far, 15 people have submitted their papers for the country's top post, of which seven have been disqualified due to lack of proper documents. The remaining candidates are also liable to be rejected at the time of scrutiny as none had the signatures of 50 proposers and as many seconders from the list of electors -- essential for a valid nomination. Elected members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and of state legislative assemblies are the electors. The presidential poll is scheduled to be held on July 17 from 10 am to 5 pm (Indian Standard Time) while the counting of votes is on July 20. The president of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of national- and state-level lawmakers. This year's presidential polls is likely to be a close affair, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties led by Congress are looking to drum up support for their chosen candidates. Although nothing is confirmed, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, tribal leader Draupadi Murmu and 'Metro man' E Sreedharan are possible BJP candidates. The Congress and other opposition parties might put forward former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's names for the presidential polls. (With inputs from ANI)

Cash, no card for presidential nomination in digital India

Leaders of at least nine non-NDA parties are part of the sub-group constituted to arrive at a consensus opposition candidate for the July 17 Indian presidential poll.

According to sources, the sub-group will be meeting next week to start deliberations among the opposition parties on the crucial poll.

They said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad aong others are part of the sub-group.

The group would comprise leaders of prominent parties like Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party besides the JD(U), RJD, NCP and DMK as well as the main opposition party-the Congress.

The sources said the possible names for the opposition candidate will only emerge after June 15 i.E. After a formal notification will be issued by the Election Commission on June 14.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is instrumental in forming this panel after she hosted a luncheon for the opposition leaders on May 26 which was attended by leaders of 17 parties.

&quot;It was suggested at the May 26 luncheon that a sub-group of non-NDA parties be formed who could deliberate and bring consensus among the opposition parties on the matter,&quot; said a senior leader.

It was also stated at the luncheon that as per the tradition, the ruling party should take the lead in suggesting a consensual candidate for the President&#39;s post.

In case it does not do so, the opposition parties will come out with its own candidate after reaching at a consensus among the opposition ranks, the sources said.

With the ruling BJP yet to initiate efforts for a consensual presidential nominee, the Congress has said the non-NDA parties will make every possible attempt to find &quot;the best person&quot; for India and it has many &quot;deserving&quot; candidates.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the opposition has made it clear that the BJP-led NDA cannot take the country for granted on the issue, but he refused to come out with any specific name.

The CPI(M), on its part, said that it was in discussion with other parties for a person with &quot;impeccable secular credentials who can discharge the responsibility as a custodian of the Constitution.&quot;

A number of leaders of opposition parties had already met Sonia Gandhi last month after she stepped up discussions for forging opposition unity on the issue.

Gandhi has held parleys with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, DMK leader M K Stalin, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, Samajwadi Party&#39;s Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD&#39;s Lalu Prasad, among others.

The Congress chief has been at the forefront of efforts to evolve a consensus among opposition parties for putting up candidates who are &quot;acceptable to the country&quot; for the posts of president and vice president.

The names of former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishan Gandhi and former Speaker Meira Kumar have so far emerged as the Opposition&#39;s choices for the top post.

The presidential election will be held on July 17 and the counting of votes is slated for July 20.

The tenure of incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24.&nbsp;

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is instrumental in forming this panel after she hosted a luncheon for the opposition leaders on May 26 which was attended by leaders of 17 parties

Leaders of at least nine non-NDA parties are part of the sub-group constituted to arrive at a consensus opposition candidate for the July 17 Indian presidential poll. According to sources, the sub-group will be meeting next week to start deliberations among the opposition parties on the crucial poll. They said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad aong others are part of the sub-group. The group would comprise leaders of prominent parties like Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party besides the JD(U), RJD, NCP and DMK as well as the main opposition party-the Congress. The sources said the possible names for the opposition candidate will only emerge after June 15 i.E. After a formal notification will be issued by the Election Commission on June 14. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is instrumental in forming this panel after she hosted a luncheon for the opposition leaders on May 26 which was attended by leaders of 17 parties. "It was suggested at the May 26 luncheon that a sub-group of non-NDA parties be formed who could deliberate and bring consensus among the opposition parties on the matter," said a senior leader. It was also stated at the luncheon that as per the tradition, the ruling party should take the lead in suggesting a consensual candidate for the President's post. In case it does not do so, the opposition parties will come out with its own candidate after reaching at a consensus among the opposition ranks, the sources said. With the ruling BJP yet to initiate efforts for a consensual presidential nominee, the Congress has said the non-NDA parties will make every possible attempt to find "the best person" for India and it has many "deserving" candidates. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the opposition has made it clear that the BJP-led NDA cannot take the country for granted on the issue, but he refused to come out with any specific name. The CPI(M), on its part, said that it was in discussion with other parties for a person with "impeccable secular credentials who can discharge the responsibility as a custodian of the Constitution." A number of leaders of opposition parties had already met Sonia Gandhi last month after she stepped up discussions for forging opposition unity on the issue. Gandhi has held parleys with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, DMK leader M K Stalin, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD's Lalu Prasad, among others. The Congress chief has been at the forefront of efforts to evolve a consensus among opposition parties for putting up candidates who are "acceptable to the country" for the posts of president and vice president. The names of former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishan Gandhi and former Speaker Meira Kumar have so far emerged as the Opposition's choices for the top post. The presidential election will be held on July 17 and the counting of votes is slated for July 20. The tenure of incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24.

India Presidential Race: Panel of 9 non-NDA parties to decide on consensus candidate

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