Ram Nath Kovind sworn in as President, pledges to uphold Constitution
Kovind will reside in the largest residence for any head of state in the world
 "Ram Nath Kovind on his way to Rashtrapati Bhawan")
Ram Nath Kovind on his way to Rashtrapati Bhawan
Ram Nath Kovind swore in as the 14th President of India on Tuesday at Rashtrapati Bhawan in a glittering ceremony.
Kovind was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar. He exchanged seats with Pranab Mukherjee and a 21-gun salute followed as the new President Kovind made his first address.
Ram Nath Kovind then addressed the gathering at Central as President of India, "I am accepting this position with all humility and I am grateful for this responsibility. I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Pranab da".
WATCH LIVE from Rashtrapati Bhavan: #RamNathKovind's swearing-in as President of India https://t.co/qDvOXixifd
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2017
Immediately after the oath taking ceremony, Kovind, 71, exchanged the chair with Mukherjee to take over the top constitutional post of India - as the head of the state and supreme commander of the Indian Armed forces.
"My journey from a small village to President's House has been long but interesting. A nation grows only when development for all is ensured. Ham sab ek hain aur ek hi rahenge," he said.
Kovind arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt escorted by the Military Secretary to the President. Pranab Mukherjee had also taken Kovind on a tour of the official residence.
Kovind, former Bihar Governor, is the second Dalit President of India after K R Narayanan.
The NDA candidate received 65.65 per cent of the votes in the Electoral College and defeating Opposition candidate Meira Kumar.
The President-elect left Rashtrapati Bhavan for Raj Path with Pranab Mukherjee, who was given a farewell in Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier, reported Lok Sabha TV.
In view of the ceremonial functions, the outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee along with Kovind proceeded to the Parliament in a six-horse carriage. Army, Navy and Air Force personnel flanked the Raisina Hill road.
The buggy was brought out for the first time after 1984 by Mukherjee for Beating Retreat ceremony in 2014.
Ramnath Kovind's family members, associates and close friends arrived for the swearing-in at Parliament House. Earlier in the day, Kovind reached Rajghat and paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi along with wife Savita.
The ceremony began at 12.15 pm in the Central Hall of Parliament.
At the Parliament, both were received by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
The dais at the central hall was shared by President and President-elect, Speaker, Vice President and Chief Justice of India.
After the event, outgoing President Mukherjee will proceed to his new residence - 10, Rajaji Marg.
Kovind was elected the President last Thursday as a ruling NDA candidate. He defeated the Opposition parties' nominee Meira Kumar by a huge margin.
Ram Nath Kovind, who served as the 35th Governor of Bihar was born on October 1, 1945 in Paraukh village in the Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh. Kovind did his graduation in law from a Kanpur college.
Before start his career as a lawyer, Kovind cleared the civil services examination but did not join as he was selected for an allied. Mr Kovind joined the BJP in 1991. He was President of the BJP Dalit Morcha between 1998 and 2002. He also served as Member of Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 2006.
While Mukherjee left for his new address — 10 Rajaji Marg, Kovind will reside in the largest residence for any head of state in the world.
Kovind will hold the office of President for five years, according to Article 56 of the Constitution of India.
In the presidential election 2017, held on July 17, of the total 4,880 valid voters — 4,109 members of legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and 771 elected members of Parliament (MPs) — 99.49 per cent had cast their vote. Of the total 771 MPs who are entitled to vote, 768, or 99.61 per cent, cast their votes. Likewise, of the 4,109 MLAs entitled to vote, 4,083 or 99.37 per cent cast their votes, officials said.
With inputs from PTI
1:39 PM
Narendra Modi at the Swearing-In Ceremony of President Ram Nath Kovind at central hall of Parliament
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Kovind's school — The BNSD (Bishambhar Nath Sanatan Dharam Inter College) College — in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district hosted lunch for the school authorities including students, teachers and passersby to celebrate the oath taking ceremony of Kovind as 14th President at Central Hall of Parliament.
1:27 PM
The 71-year-old leader born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, had also earned the support of the JD(U), which broke ranks with the "mahagathbandhan" because of his non-confrontational approach as governor of the state.
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According to Article 56 of the Constitution of India, Kovind shall hold the office for five years from the date of his swearing-in
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Here's a picture of Kovind at his car inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan
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Meanwhile, as noisy protests mounted by Opposition members over cow vigilantes and lynching erupted, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan decided to adjourn the proceedings just when the first question was being taken up in the Question Hour.
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Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm to allow members to participate in swearing-in ceremony of India's 14th President. Read here
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Ram Nath Kovind will assume office on July 26.
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The 72-year-old is the second Indian President to come from the Dalit community. K R Narayanan was the first.
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12:55 PM
Kovind gets 21-gun salute at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
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First Published: Jul 25 2017 | 12:06 PM IST
