LIVE: 'Watershed moment for India', says PM Modi after Droupadi Murmu assumes presidency

Droupadi Murmu's oath-taking ceremony as President of India Live Updates: The 64-year-old was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana in the presence of outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among others.

Droupadi Murmu takes oath as India's 15th President, becomes first tribal woman to occupy highest office

Droupadi Murmu's oath-taking ceremony as President of India Live Updates: Droupadi Murmu today (July 25) took oath as the 15th President of India and became the first tribal woman to occupy the highest office in the country. The oath-taking ceremony, which came three days after she registered a historic win over her rival Yashwant Sinha in the July 18 Presidential election, took place in the Central Hall of Parliament in Delhi.

The 64-year-old was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana in the presence of outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among others. 

Droupadi Murmu, a former Jharkhand governor, has become the second woman president of India.

Who is Droupadi Murmu, India's 15th President?

Droupadi Murmu was born in a Santali tribal family on June 30, 1958, in Uparbeda village in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. She completed her education in Bhubaneswar and went on to work first as a junior assistant in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983. 

After this short stint as a clerk, she became a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre at Rairangpur till 1997.

Droupadi Murmu entered politics in 1997 

Murmu commenced her journey in the field of politics in 1997 by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She was first elected as the councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat and then went on to become the chairperson of the same panchayat in 2000. Later, she also served as the national vice president of the BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha.

Murmu became a member of the council of ministers in the BJP and Biju Janata Dal coalition government in Odisha, first becoming the minister of state with independent charge for commerce and transportation from March 2000 to August 2022 and then minister for fisheries and animal resources development from August 2002 to May 2004. 

A legislator from the Rairangpur assembly constituency in the years 2000 and 2004, Droupadi Murmu was conferred Nilkhantha Award for the best MLA by the Odisha assembly in 2007.

In 2015, she became the first woman governor of Jharkhand and also the first woman tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed as the governor of a state.

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25 July 2022

13:22 IST

Who is Droupadi Murmu, India's 15th President?

Droupadi Murmu was born in a Santali tribal family on June 30, 1958, in Uparbeda village in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. She completed her education in Bhubaneswar and went on to work first as a junior assistant in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983. 

After this short stint as a clerk, she became a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre at Rairangpur till 1997.

Droupadi Murmu entered politics in 1997 

Murmu commenced her journey in the field of politics in 1997 by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She was first elected as the councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat and then went on to become the chairperson of the same panchayat in 2000. Later, she also served as the national vice president of the BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha.

Murmu became a member of the council of ministers in the BJP and Biju Janata Dal coalition government in Odisha, first becoming the minister of state with independent charge for commerce and transportation from March 2000 to August 2022 and then minister for fisheries and animal resources development from August 2002 to May 2004. 

A legislator from the Rairangpur assembly constituency in the years 2000 and 2004, Droupadi Murmu was conferred Nilkhantha Award for the best MLA by the Odisha assembly in 2007.

In 2015, she became the first woman governor of Jharkhand and also the first woman tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed as the governor of a state.

12:34 IST

Watershed moment for India, says PM Modi after Droupadi Murmu assumes presidency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described Droupadi Murmu taking over as India's new President as a "watershed moment" for the country, especially the poor, marginalised and downtrodden.

"The entire nation watched with pride as she took the oath," Modi said as he wished her the best for a fruitful tenure.

The entire nation watched with pride as Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji took oath as the President of India. Her assuming the Presidency is a watershed moment for India especially for the poor, marginalised and downtrodden. I wish her the very best for a fruitful Presidential tenure. pic.twitter.com/xcqBqRt2nc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2022

"In her address after taking oath, President Droupadi Murmu Ji gave a message of hope and compassion. She emphasised on India's accomplishments and presented a futuristic vision of the path ahead at a time when India is marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav," the Prime Minister tweeted. 

In her address after taking oath, President Droupadi Murmu Ji gave a message of hope and compassion. She emphasised on India's accomplishments and presented a futuristic vision of the path ahead at a time when India is marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. pic.twitter.com/I2DEO5wHbO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2022

Droupadi Murmu has become India's first tribal President.