Swearing-in Live | India is Diverse Yet United: President Kovind

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India’s new President Ram Nath Kovind, waves as he arrives in a traditional horse driven carriage at the Presidential Palace after being sworn in.

(Photo: AP)

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• “It is an honour to be the President of India,” Ram Nath Kovind says in first official address after taking oath
  
• Ram Nath Kovind takes oath as the 14th President of India in the Central Hall of Parliament
  
• Before heading to Parliament for swearing in, Kovind pays homage at Rajghat to Mahatma Gandhi
  
• Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have been adjourned for Kovind’s oath-taking ceremony
  

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 3:11 PM

Making history as the first occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan from the BJP, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday pledged to always follow the basic mantra of the Constitution to ensure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

Elected to the highest constitutional office last week, Kovind was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar at a brief but glittering ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament before a gathering of MPs, Chief Ministers and diplomats.

Taking oath in the name of God, Kovind pledged to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law" and devoted himself to the services and well-being of the people of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers, opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda attended the event.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 3:11 PM

Kovind's Village Celebrates

Celebrations were on in full swing at Paraukhan in Uttar Pradesh, the village Kovind hails from. (Photo: ANI)

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Kovind Delivers His First Presidential Address

In his first address after being sworn in as the 14th President of India, Ram Nath Kovind said:

I am honoured to be the President of India. I perform this massive responsibility with humility. I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr Abdul Kalam and Pranab da. My journey has been long and arduous, but it has not just been my journey but the journey of India as a country.

(Photo: The Quint)

He further said:

Coming into Central hall has brought back so many memories. I have had discussions with many of you. Sometimes we have agreed, often we have disagreed but we have respected each other. This is democracy... this is the India of our dreams that will provide equal opportunity.

(Photo: The Quint)

Praising India’s democracy, Kovind said:

We are a country of great diversity, yet have shown that unity is the way forward. We are different yet the same. We are a peaceful nation and are now at a stage where we have to take the country forward... We are proud of our heritage and culture. It is now time we show the world what India is capable of.

Ram Nath Kovind greets the Indian ministers, parliamentarians and members of opposition as the new President of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets his congratulations to President Kovind after the oath-taking ceremony.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:46 PM

Watch Kovind's Swearing-in Ceremony Live:

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 12:08 PM

Elaborate Ceremony Starts with a Gentle Knock

The elaborate ceremony for change of guard in India's highest Constitutional office started on Tuesday with a gentle knock on the door of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind's Akbar Road residence.

It was Military Secretary to the President, Major General Anil Khosla, inviting 71-year old Kovind and his wife Savita to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Pranab Mukherjee was waiting for them in the study.

The two leaders then went to the grand Rashtrapai Bhavan forecourt where they were escorted to the saluting dais.

Mukherjee took the last salute of the President's Bodyguard with President-elect Kovind standing to his left.

He and his successor then drove down Raisina Hill to the Central Hall of the Parliament in a black limousine. Escorting them was grand equestrian procession by the PBG, dressed in white ceremonial uniforms and blue turbans with gold ornamental work.

The road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament was lined with jawans of the armed forces.

The morning began with the president-elect offering floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Lok Sabha Adjourned

Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm in view of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind's swearing-in.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

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Traditional Buggy Brought Out for Kovind

The traditional gold-plated presidential buggy, that had fallen out of tradition for at least 20 years until President Mukherjee brought it back, will take the outgoing President and the President-elect to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

At one point of time, the buggy was used for all ceremonies, and even the President used to move around in it in his estate. But with security concerns rising over the years, the buggy fell into disuse.

In 2014, President Mukherjee warmed the seats of the buggy once again at the Beating Retreat ceremony instead of using his armoured limousine.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 3:09 PM

"We're Proud of Him," Say Kovind's Family

Over 70 friends and family members arrive at the Parliament ahead of his swearing-in. Speaking to ANI, they said that they’re extremely proud of Kovind.

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Kovind Reaches Rajghat

President-elect Ram Nath Kovind reaches Rajghat, along with his wife Savita Kovind to pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi before heading to Rashtrapati Bhavan for his swearing-in ceremony.

Kovind, dressed in a black safari suit, paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation. The 71-year-old was also presented a Gandhi memento.

President-elect Ram Nath Kovind and his wife pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before being sworn as the 14th President of India in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Kovind to Become India's 14th President Today

Ram Nath Kovind will take oath as India's 14th President on Tuesday at a ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament. He will first proceed to Rajghat to pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi and then go to Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will be received by Mukherjee before proceeding to Parliament.

The outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee and Kovind will arrive in the Central Hall in a ceremonial procession, where Kovind will be administered oath by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar.

Justice Khehar will be deemed the President in the seconds between Mukherjee stepping down and Kovind taking oath.

Watch outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee’s final address to the nation in the video below:

He will then exchange seats with Mukherjee. A 21-gun salute will be given in his honour and the new President will then deliver his address.

After the ceremony ends, the new President will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to him in its forecourt while Mukherjee will leave for his new address – 10 Rajaji Marg.

Also Read: Ram Nath Kovind as President is Tokenism, Not a Tectonic Shift

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Kovind's Friends and Family Join Him on His Big Day

Eight members of the President-elect's family left for the national capital late on 24 July by the Shram Shakti Express to join Ram Nath Kovind on his oath-taking day.

Kovind's elder brother Pyarelal, sister-in-law Vidyavati, cousins Deepak, Pankaj, Shivkumar, Hemlata and Kamlesh, and Alok, the elder brother's son-in-law, will be present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Kovind's sister-in-law carried with her 'Rasiaur', a sweet dish made with rice and sugarcane juice, and 'Laddus', which are among Kovind's favourite foods. "I will also prepare 'Kadhi' in the Rashtrapati Bhavan as Kovind is very fond of it," Vidyawati said.

Kovind has also invited three of his friends – Satish Chandra Misra, Madhusudan Goel and Dr Jai Gopal – to attend the oath-taking ceremony.

Also Read: The Numbers That Helped Ram Nath Kovind Become the 14th President

Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM

Kovind's School and College All Decked Up

Students, teachers and staff of the college where Ram Nath Kovind studied up to intermediate level are planning hearty celebrations on Tuesday when he will be sworn-in as the 14th President of India.

Thrilled over one of their own ascending to the top-most constitutional post in the country, the management of the BNSD Intermediate College in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur has decided to illuminate the premises and organise a community feast on Tuesday.

The college is also busy making preparations for a live telecast of the oath-taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for its enthusiastic students and staff members.

Principal RC Singh said the students and teachers would also distribute sweets in and outside the college. BJP activists will celebrate the day as the ‘Gaurav Diwas’ in the city, district unit president Surendra Maithani said.

Also Read: Ram Nath Kovind as President is Tokenism, Not a Tectonic Shift

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Updated at:25th Jul, 2017 at 2:45 PM