Droupadi Murmu takes oath as 15th President of India, pictures

Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana administered the oath to Draupadi Murmu at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Central Hall of Parliament.

Draupadi Murmu has taken office as the 15th President of the country. She has become the first President from a tribal community as the country celebrates 75 years of independence. Draupadi Murmu is only the second woman to become President.

Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana administered the oath to Draupadi Murmu at the oath-taking ceremony held at the Central Hall of Parliament. Later, the outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and the new President Draupadi Murmu exchanged seats.

Droupadi Murmu, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind — Draupadi Murmu prepares to go from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament for the swearing-in ceremony with outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind. Photo: Renuka Puri/Express Photo

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Diplomatic Heads of Foreign Countries, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces, Members of Parliament and others participated in the oath-taking ceremony.

The ceremony started at 9.17 am. The convoy of the President and the President-designate reached the fifth gate of the Parliament and were received by the Vice President, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Then the President and the President-elect proceeded to the Central Hall of the Parliament where the swearing-in ceremony was held.

The two were accompanied by the Vice President, Lok Sabha Speaker and Chief Justice. The Union Home Secretary read out the notification of the Election Commission selecting the new President. The oath was then taken.

Draupadi Murmu’s daughter Itishree, her daughter’s husband Ganesh Hembram and other family members witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.

Sixty-four-year-old Draupadi Murmu is the first tribal woman to hold the highest office in the country. A tribal leader from Odisha, Draupadi held many important positions.

Draupadi was born on 20 June 1958 and is a former Governor of Jharkhand. Along with this, she earned the title of being the first woman governor of Jharkhand. He held the post of Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021.

Draupadi Murmu said that it is the strength of our democracy that a daughter born in the tribal area can reach the highest constitutional post of India. After assuming power, she was addressing the nation.