Draupadi Murmu takes oath as 15th President of India

Guwahati: Droupadi Murmu took oath as the 15th President of India today (July 25) at the Central Hall of Parliament.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana administered the oath of office of the highest constitutional post of the country to Murmu. The oath-taking ceremony was followed by a 21-gun salute, after which Murmu addressed the gathering at the Central Hall as the 15th President of India.

The Madam President received thunderous applause from the gathering of illustrious personalities including outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and other dignitaries

President Murmu called upon the countrymen ‘to speed up efforts to meet the expectations that our freedom fighters had with the citizens of independent India’. 

Standing in the Parliament – the symbol of expectations, aspirations and rights of all Indians – I humbly express my gratitude to all of you. Your trust and support will be a major strength for me to carry out this new responsibility, she said in her speech.

Before leaving for the swearing-in ceremony, Murmu reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan, her home and office for the next five years, where she was welcomed by Kovind and his wife Savita.

The outgoing President had then escorted Murmu to the Presidential study for a brief meeting.

Earlier in the morning, Murmu paid tributes to the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Members of the Council of Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, MPs and principal civil and military officers of the government are in attendance at the swearing in ceremony.