Grassroots level reforms have helped India improve global ranking significantly: President

The reforms carried out by the Centre in the past five years at the grassroots level have led to significant improvement in India's global ranking in many fields, said President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday.

"Thanks to the efforts made by the government at the ground level in the past five years, there is a significant improvement in India's global ranking in many fields," said President Kovind, while addressing the Joint Session of Parliament, marking the beginning of Budget Session.

Referring to the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' ranking, the President said that India has jumped to 63rd position from 79.

"In Resolving Insolvency ranking, India has reached 52nd position from 108th while in the Global Innovation ranking 52nd from 74th," he said.

Talking about Performance Index, President Kovind said that India has improved by 10 points while in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness ranking of World Economic Forum, India has reached 34th position from 52nd.

The President also stressed the need for keeping "national interest paramount" while fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen.

"Our Constitution expects from this Parliament and every member present in this House to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the countrymen and make necessary laws for them, keeping national interest paramount," he said.

Kovind also said that any form of violence in the name of protest makes "our society and country weaker."

"My government clearly believes that mutual discussion and debate make democracy stronger. While any form of violence in name of protest, makes our society and country weaker," said Kovind.

The President's remarks come a day after a juvenile was arrested for brandishing a pistol and shooting towards students protesting against the amended citizenship law in Jamia area here on Thursday.

One student was injured in the incident. Protests at multiple places in the country are also being held over the new law.

President Kovind also said that this decade is very important for the country.

"In the last five years, the government has laid the foundation for making this century Bharat's century. This decade is very important for Bharat," he said.

The Union Budget will be presented on Saturday. The first phase of the session will conclude on February 11, while the second part of the session will begin from March 2 to end on April 3.