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Droupadi Murmu to take oath as India’s 15th President today
Droupadi Murmu will be the first tribal and only the second woman to take oath as President. She will also be the first President born after Independence.
NEW DELHI: Droupadi Murmu is set to take oath as India’s 15th President at a ceremony in Parliament’s central hall at 10.15am on Monday, the first tribal woman to assume the country’s highest constitutional post. The oath will be administered by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana followed by a 21-gun salute.
The 64-year-old Santhal woman scripted history on July 21, 2022, by defeating Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the presidential elections, receiving 64% votes,
Murmu, 64, who will become the youngest Indian President and the first to be born after Independence, will address the gathering soon after the oath ceremony.
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After the ceremony in the central hall, the President will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan along with President Ram Nath Kovind where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to her in the forecourt.
The ceremony of assumption of office will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, members of the council of ministers, governors, chief ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, members of parliament and civil and military officers.
Murmu’s family will also attend the event, her brother, sister-in-law, daughter and son-in-law. Her brother Taranisen Tudu told HT his wife Sakramani is carrying a Jhal saree, a traditional Santhali saree designed with motifs of birds, fishes, flowers, leaves and animals for the President-elect.
“Santhali women wear these handwoven sarees on special occasions and I hope my sister would wear it tomorrow,” said Tudu. The family is also carrying along sweetmeats that Murmu likes.
