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Ram Nath Kovind sworn in as the 14th President of India — As it happened

Updates from the swearing-in ceremony of Ram Nath Kovind.

July 25, 2017 / 04:12 pm IST

15:34 That's all from our side. Stay tuned for more news and updates.

15:29 Let's take a look at what makes former President Pranab Mukherjee's tenure unique.

15:11 Read President Ram Nath Kovind's first address here.


15:06


14:37


14:14

14:09 The President, spourse of the President will now travel with the former President to 10, Rajaji Marg, which will be the latter's new residence.

14:03 Former President Mukherjee is now inspecting the inter-services Guard of honour.

13:58 President Kovind's new Twitter profile (@Rashtrapatibhvn) shows he has a 3.27 million followers already. Former President Mukherjee's Twitter handle has been archived (@POI13).

13:48 President Kovind is now inspecting the inter-services Guard of honour.

13:44 The President is arriving at the central forecourt for the inter-services Guard of honour, in the iconic stagecoach.

13:33 As per tradition, President Kovind will inspect the inter-services Guard of honour.

The Guard of honour will be given by the Army, Navy and Air Force together. President of India is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

13:29 Special dignitaries are now arriving at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

13:27 India is now 14 Presidents old! Here's a look at India's former Presidents.

President

13:05 Watch: President Kovind gets salute from the President's Bodyguards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.



13:02

12:55


12:53 President Kovind has arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan's main building. According to the tradition, former President Pranab Mukherjee will give him a tour of the Presidential Estate.

12:48 President Kovind has now reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

12:41 The convoy escorted by horse-mounted President's Bodyguards makes its way outside the Parliament complex amidst heavy rain.

12:37 President Kovind gets a traditional salute from the President's Bodyguard.


12:36

12:33 President Kovind is greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Pratibha Patil, former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, union ministers and senior leaders of the Oppositions.

12:30 The national anthem is played to signal the end of the swearing-in ceremony. President Kovind and former President Pranab Mukherjee will now head to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

12:27 Vice President Hamid Ansari is now reading the first and the last paragraph of President Kovind's address, as part of the tradition.

12:26 


12:23 Ram Nath Kovind talks about nation building and says that everyone is part of the process.

12:22 President Kovind talks about cultural diversity in India. Says, "We are proud of this diversity".

12:17 Ram Nath Kovind thanks people for choosing him as the President.

12:16 President Ram Nath Kovind is now addressing the nation.

12:14 President Ram Nath Kovind given a 21-gun salute.

12:12 Ram Nath Kovind is now the President of India.

12:12 Ram Nath Kovind takes oath to become the 14th President of India.

12:07 They are now headed to the Central Hall where President-elect Kovind will take the oath of office.

12:03 Vice President Hamid Ansari, Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan are receiving President-elect Kovind and President Pranab Mukherjee.

12:02 President-elect Kovind and President Pranab Mukherjee have now arrived at the Parliament.

11:57 The cavalcade is travelling on the Rajpath Marg, passing the North and the South Block, on its way to the Parliament.

11:51 President-elect Ram Nath Kovind and President Pranab Mukherjee are now on their way to the Parliament.

11:44 Pranab Mukherjee is showing Ram Nath Kovind around the Rashtrapati Bhavan as they make their way outside.

11:39 Ram Nath Kovind and Pranab Mukherjee are expected to start their journey to the Parliament in few minutes from now. The ceremonial cavalcade will be escorted by the President's Bodyguards. It is the oldest and the senior most regiment in the Indian Army.

11:33 Ram Nath Kovind's son Prashant Kumar will also be present at the ceremony. He tells CNN News18, "Obviously, we are very happy."
According to CNN News18, over 70 relatives of Kovind will be present at the swearing-in ceremony.

11:31 Both, the President-elect and incumbent President will soon head to the Parliament together in a ceremonial cavalcade. They will be received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament.

11:30 Ram Nath Kovind, accompanied by his wife have reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet Pranab Mukherejee.

11:27 President-elect Ram Nath Kovind is about to reach the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

11:25 The Rashtrapati Bhavan will be the official residence of Ram Nath Kovind. In terms of the total area, it is one largest residences of any Head-of-State in the world.
Here are a few quick facts about President Kovind's new home.

> It is the official home and office of the President of India.

> The main building has 340 rooms.

> The main building houses the President's official residence, halls, guest rooms and offices

> The 30-hectare (320 acre) President Estate additionally includes huge presidential gardens called the Mughal Gardens.

> The estate also includes large open spaces, residences of bodyguards and staff, stables, other offices and utilities within its premises.

> The Rashtrapati Bhavan was built by the British as the official residence of the Viceroy of India and was known as the "Viceroy's House". The construction was completed in 1929.

11:16 The Lok Sabha has now been adjourned till 15:00 for the swearing-in ceremony.

11:07 Outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the nation for the last time yesterday. He expressed his gratitude and said, "I have received more than I have given."

"How responsible I was will be judged by the critical lens of history," he added.

He emphasised that "pluralism and multiplicity" are the key characteristics of India and one must embrace these for an all-encompassing development of India.


Read more about Pranab Mukherjee's last address to the nation, here.

11:00 Meanwhile, family members of Ram Nath Kovind have already arrived at the Parliament. They told the media that they are "extremely happy and proud".

10:56 Here's all you need to know about India's next Head-of-State:

> The 71-year-old Dalit leader has been serving as the Governor of Bihar since August 2015.

> Kovind  hails from from Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh.

> Ram Nath Kovind has served as a Rajya Sabha member twice between 1994-2000 and 2000-2006 from Uttar Pradesh.

> Kovind has served as a member of several parliamentary committees and was the chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee.

> Kovind had practiced in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for almost 16 years until 1993.

> He served as the personal secretary of Morarji Desai in the 1977 Janata Party-led government. He has been close to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Read more about Ram Nath Kovind here.

10:51 Ram Nath Kovind was elected as India's 14th President on July 20. He received seven lak votes while his opponent former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar received three lakh votes.

Read more here.

10:43 Here's what is scheduled for the day:

> After visiting Raj Ghat, the President-elect will reach the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, escorted by the Military Secretary to the President.

> The President-elect and incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee will then travel to the Parliament in a ceremonial cavalcade for the ceremony.

> He will then be escorted to the Central Hall of Parliament.

> Kovind will take oath in presence of the Chief Justice of India.

> Once the ceremony is over, the President's Bodyguard will escort Kovind to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Thereafter, outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee will give him a tour of the official residence — the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

> After the tour, Kovind will drop off Mukherjee at his new residence — 10, Rajaji Marg.

Read more here.

10:37 President-elect Ram Nath Kovind is visiting Raj Ghat. Raj Ghat is a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

10:35 He will the country's highest constitutional office today after the power officially is transferred from current outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee to him.

President Pranab Mukherjee's official duties ended yesterday (July 24), exactly five years since he took over from former President Pratibha Patil.

10:33 Welcome to the Live coverage of the swearing-in of the Ram Nath Kovind as the 14th President of India.

  • Ram Nath Kovind sworn in as the 14th President of India — As it happened
    India's President-elect Ram Nath Kovind arrives to attend a ceremony after his victory, in New Delhi, India July 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX3C8A9
    Moneycontrol.com
  • July 25, 2017 / 10:30 AM IST
  • July 25, 2017 / 03:35 PM IST

    That's all from our side. Stay tuned for more news and updates.

  • July 25, 2017 / 03:30 PM IST
  • July 25, 2017 / 03:11 PM IST

    Read President Ram Nath Kovind's first address here.

  • July 25, 2017 / 03:07 PM IST
  • July 25, 2017 / 02:37 PM IST
  • July 25, 2017 / 02:14 PM IST
  • July 25, 2017 / 02:10 PM IST

    The President, spourse of the President will now travel with the former President to 10, Rajaji Marg, which will be the latter's new residence.

  • July 25, 2017 / 02:03 PM IST

    Former President Mukherjeeis now inspecting the inter-services Guard of honour.

  • July 25, 2017 / 01:58 PM IST

    President Kovind's new Twitter profile (@Rashtrapatibhvn) shows he has a 3.27 million followers already. Former President Mukherjee's Twitter handle has been archived (@POI13).

  • July 25, 2017 / 01:49 PM IST

    President Kovind is now inspecting theinter-services Guard of honour.

  • July 25, 2017 / 01:44 PM IST

    The President is arriving at the central forecourt for the inter-servicesGuard of honour, in the iconicstagecoach.

  • July 25, 2017 / 01:33 PM IST

    As pertradition, President Kovind will inspect the inter-services Guard of honour.

    The Guard of Honour will be given by the Army, Navy and Air Force together. President of India is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

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