President Murmu outlines major policies, praises reforms, and highlights India's progress in Budget Session 2025 speech
New Delhi: The government is infusing new energy through unprecedented achievements in “Amrit Kaal” of India’s development journey and the pace of work has tripled in its third term, said President Droupadi Murmu on the opening day of the Budget Session. She said the nation was witnessing major decisions and policies were being implemented at an extraordinary speed, with the highest priority given to the poor, middle class, youth, women, and farmers.
In her nearly hour-long speech, the President mentioned the initiatives taken by the BJP-led government at the Centre. She also expressed grief at the stampede tragedy at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The Opposition, however, hooted as vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar mentioned the Maha Kumbh in the English translation of her speech. In fact, the translation was disrupted several times over multiple issues.
The President also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had passed away in late December.
Talking about her government’s performance, Ms Murmu said the final phase of eliminating left-wing extremism has begun and due to the government’s efforts, the number of districts affected by left-wing extremism had reduced from 126 to 38. She added that her government was conscious of the aspirations of the people of the Northeast and has worked to eliminate their sense of alienation. “Through more than 10 peace agreements, several factions have been brought onto the path of peace,” she said.
Talking about Jammu and Kashmir, she said after Article 370’s abrogation, there was a conducive environment for the Union territory’s development. She lauded the people of J&K over the peaceful conduct of Assembly and general elections.
The President said in the third term of her government, concrete steps have been taken to achieve the goal of providing “Housing for All” and extending the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, it was decided to provide new homes to an additional three crore families. A budget of Rs 5,36,000 crores has been allocated for this purpose, she said.
She also mentioned other social sector schemes like Dharti Aaba Tribal Village Utkarsh, Ayushman Bharat scheme, loan to small sectors under the MUDRA scheme, PM Vidyalakshmi scheme to provide financial assistance to meritorious students for higher education. She added that in addition one crore youth will be given internship opportunities in the top 500 companies. She said a new law has been enacted to prevent incidents of paper leaks and ensure transparency in recruitment.
She further said the government has made swift progress on critical issues like “One Nation-One Election” and the “Waqf Act Amendment”.
Ms Murmu underlined that through various schemes the government has worked towards poverty alleviation and due to such efforts 25 crore people have overcome poverty and are moving forward in life. “They have formed a neo-middle class, a group that is infusing new energy into India’s growth journey,” she said.
She mentioned the constitution of the Eighth Pay Commission for the welfare of government employees, saying this decision will lay the foundation for a substantial salary increase for government employees in the coming years. Additionally, the Central government has decided to provide 50 per cent assured pension to lakhs of employees under the Unified Pension Scheme, which has been widely welcomed, she said.
Earlier, President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial welcome in the Parliament premises. She arrived in a six-horse-driven ceremonial buggy and escorted by the mounted President’s Bodyguard and walked into Lok Sabha flanked by vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and an official carrying the “Sengol”.
