Veteran leader and daughter of Odisha soil, Draupadi Murmu on Monday took oath as the 15th President of India. Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana administered the oath of office to Murmu in the Central Hall of Parliament.
The Madam President received thunderous applause from the gathering of illustrious personalities including outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Modi.
Addressing the country after taking the oath, Murmu said her feat is not a personal achievement but rather it proves that the poor in India cannot only dream but also fulfill those dreams.
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.