President Murmu Calls for United Parliament to Accelerate Viksit Bharat Mission

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged Parliament to stand united on issues of national interest and accelerate reforms to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat, asserting that India has laid a strong foundation for becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu said the country has entered the second phase of the 21st century with confidence, backed by social justice, economic resilience, infrastructure expansion and technological progress achieved over the past decade.

Highlighting social justice as a constitutional mandate, President Droupadi Murmu said 25 crore people have come out of poverty in the last ten years, while social security coverage has expanded from 25 crore citizens in 2014 to nearly 95 crore today. She said four crore pucca houses have been built for the poor, over 12.5 crore households have received tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, and more than 10 crore families have been provided LPG connections through the Ujjwala Yojana.

She said direct benefit transfer has strengthened transparency, with benefits worth over ₹6.75 lakh crore transferred directly to beneficiaries in the last year alone.

On healthcare, President Droupadi Murmu said Ayushman Bharat has provided over 11 crore free treatments so far, while nearly one crore senior citizens have received Vay Vandana Cards. She noted that India has been declared trachoma-free by the World Health Organization and has made significant progress in controlling diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and Japanese encephalitis.

Turning to agriculture and allied sectors, she said India achieved record foodgrain production of over 350 million tonnes, became the world’s largest rice producer, the second-largest fish producer, and the leading milk-producing nation. Manufacturing growth, she said, has positioned India as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with smartphone exports crossing ₹1 lakh crore in the first five months of 2025–26.

President Droupadi Murmu said India has made unprecedented investments in infrastructure, citing the construction of the Chenab railway bridge, expansion of metro networks beyond 1,000 km, electrification of railways, and the induction of new-generation Vande Bharat trains. She said national waterways have increased from five to over 100, boosting logistics and regional development.

Referring to space and technology, she said India’s young astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s visit to the International Space Station marked the beginning of space tourism ambitions, alongside progress on the Gaganyaan mission and plans for an Indian space station.

On the economy, President Droupadi Murmu said India has remained the fastest-growing major economy despite global crises, kept inflation under control, and strengthened purchasing power. She welcomed the conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union, calling it a boost for manufacturing, services and employment.

She highlighted major reforms including GST restructuring, income tax exemption up to ₹12 lakh, consolidation of labour laws into four codes, and the launch of the SHANTI Act to scale nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW by 2047.

Stressing regional balance, President Droupadi Murmu said special focus on Purvodaya and the North-East has transformed connectivity, healthcare and education, with over 7,200 km of highways built, railway links extended to state capitals, and new medical institutions established.

On national security, she said India has delivered a firm response to terrorism through Operation Sindoor and is strengthening defence preparedness under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. She said Maoist violence has been reduced from 126 districts to eight, with thousands of former cadres surrendering and rejoining mainstream society.

Emphasising self-reliance, President Droupadi Murmu said Make in India and the PLI scheme have attracted investments of ₹2 lakh crore, boosted electronics production sixfold, and pushed defence production beyond ₹1.5 lakh crore. Semiconductor manufacturing, critical minerals, shipping reforms and green energy were identified as future growth drivers.

On women-led development, she said over 10 crore women have been linked to self-help groups, more than two crore women have become Lakhpati Didis, and the first batch of women cadets has graduated from the National Defence Academy.

She also cautioned against the misuse of artificial intelligence, citing deepfakes and misinformation as emerging threats to democracy, and called for serious deliberation on regulation.

In foreign policy, President Droupadi Murmu said India continues to act as a bridge in a complex global environment, amplifying the voice of the Global South and playing a humanitarian role during international crises. She said India’s BRICS presidency and the upcoming Global AI Impact Summit will further strengthen its global leadership.

Calling cultural pride an essential pillar of development, she said India is preserving its heritage through initiatives such as the Gyan Bharatam Mission, return of Buddhist relics, tribal museums and recognition of Diwali as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Concluding her address, President Droupadi Murmu urged lawmakers to rise above political differences and unite on national priorities, saying the journey towards Viksit Bharat requires continuity, discipline and collective resolve.

She expressed confidence that Parliament, government and citizens together will shape India’s future with constitutional values and national interest at the core.