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Budget session begins: President Droupadi Murmu highlights govt achievements in 18th Lok Sabha Budget session address

President starts her address by expressing sorrow over tragic accident that occurred at ongoing Kumbh Mela, leaving several dead in stampede

Reported by:  PTC News Desk  Edited by:  Jasleen Kaur -- January 31st 2025 12:56 PM
Budget session begins: President Droupadi Murmu highlights govt achievements in 18th Lok Sabha Budget session address

Budget session begins: President Droupadi Murmu highlights govt achievements in 18th Lok Sabha Budget session address

Budget session begins: The first day of the 18th Lok Sabha Budget Session began with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint session of both Houses of Parliament on Friday. Her speech lasted 59 minutes, during which she highlighted the government’s achievements, initiatives, and the progress made in several key sectors.

Key highlights from President Murmu’s speech


The President started her address by expressing her sorrow over the tragic accident that occurred at the ongoing Kumbh Mela. She extended her condolences, acknowledging the tragic loss and the ongoing significance of the event.

Addressing the session further, President Murmu commended the government's efforts in implementing several welfare initiatives. She highlighted that over 70% of senior citizens now benefit from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, small businesses have witnessed a doubling of loan limits, and the target of constructing three crore new homes is set to be achieved soon.

President  Droupadi Murmu said the government was working with unprecedented speed, and the country was witnessing a swift implementation of critical decisions and policies. Women, farmers, and youth were receiving the highest priority in government initiatives, she claimed.

Before the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media outside Parliament, asserting that several historical Bills would be introduced during this session. He stressed that efforts would be focused on ensuring women live with dignity, and announced that reforms, performance, and transformation will be the guiding principles for the session.

Key points from President's address in seven key areas:

President Murmu noted that the government is focusing on ensuring fair prices for farmers and enhancing their income. The country achieved 332 million tonne of food grain production. The government has increased the MSP for Kharif and Rabi crops and allocated three times the previous amount for the purchase of coarse grains. The government has provided 109 high-yielding crop varieties to farmers and is promoting agricultural infrastructure. A national mission for organic farming has been launched, and efforts to increase the production of food oils and tendu leaves are underway.

To support students, the government has introduced new schemes for higher education and will offer internships in over 500 companies. A new law has been passed to curb paper leaks. Additionally, the government has approved Rs 26,000 crore for the rural road scheme and added 17 Vande Bharat trains in the last six months.

She said the government was dedicated to providing a dignified life for the poor. "Over 25 crore people have overcome poverty and are now advancing in life. The government has created a platform for the new middle class to thrive. A new wage commission has been established for government employees, and a decision has been made to provide 50% of the fixed pension under the unified pension system," she said.

President Murmu emphasised that the welfare of tribals, Dalits, and marginalised communities had been prioritised. "There are now over 770 Eklavya schools providing education to tribal children. Thirty new medical colleges have been opened, and health screening for five crore people has been completed," she said.

The President also spoke about the country’s infrastructure advancements, stating that the budget for infrastructure has grown from Rs 2 lakh crore 10 years ago to over Rs 11 lakh crore today. A deep-water mega port has been initiated, which will rank among the top 10 ports globally.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project has been completed, connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The world's highest railway cable bridge has also been constructed.

In the health sector, cancer medicines had been exempted from customs duties, and nine crore women had been screened for cervical cancer, she said. The government has worked as much on social infrastructure as on physical infrastructure. The government is also working to reduce healthcare costs for families. Over 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been set up.

The President said India was emerging as a global technology player, with the launch of 5G being a key milestone. The UPI technology had become a huge success, and more than 50% of real-time digital transactions were happening in India. Even the smallest shopkeeper could now benefit from these services. Additionally, more than 5 lakh commerce service centres have been established to offer various services, and the introduction of digital lockers allowed citizens to access and present important documents anytime, anywhere,she added.

Notably, on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the 18th Lok Sabha, marking her eighth consecutive budget as Finance Minister. This will be the first budget of the third term of the Modi government, and it is expected to include key reforms and fiscal policies aimed at boosting the economy and addressing the needs of the common people.

- With inputs from agencies

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