Budget Session 2025: From Lakhpati Didi to India AI mission, President Murmu lays out plan for Viksit Bharat

While addressing a joint session of Parliament, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu said that India will soon become the third largest economy in the world. In her customary address, Murmu emphasised that her government is committed to fulfilling the dreams of the Indian middle class. From the development of women to the promotion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the president laid out her government’s vision of India’s future.

“Two months ago, we celebrated 75 years of adopting our constitution and a few days ago, we completed our journey of 75 years… On behalf of all Indians, I bow down to Babasaheb Ambedkar and all others in the Constitution Committee,” the president said at the start of her address.

“The government has taken steps towards ‘One Nation, One Election’ and Waqf Amendment Bill. My government has placed a special focus on the education of youth and creating new employment opportunities for them,” she added. The president also acknowledged the Maha Kumbh festival, which is currently ongoing and expressed condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives during the ceremony.

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LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu addresses Parliament https://t.co/2PKUDqNb5m

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 31, 2025

“The historic Maha Kumbh is going on. It is a festival of our cultural traditions and social awakening. Crores of devotees from India and the world have taken a holy dip in Prayagraj. I express my condolences on the accident that occurred on Mauni Amavasya and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she added.

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From women to AI, the president lays out her government’s vision

While outlining the schemes her government introduced, the president laid out her vision for India’s future. Here’s a look at the list of sectors she touched upon:

• Upliftment of tribals: In her address, the president emphasised how her government has started ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ which would benefit over five crore people.

• Education: She emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is planning to put a special focus on the education of the youth. “My government has placed a special focus on the education of youth and creating new employment opportunities for them,” she said.

• Health Insurance: She also spoke about how the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has provided health insurance to six crore senior citizens who are aged 70 and above. “To ensure health services to all citizens, 1.75 lahks ‘Arogyoa Mandir have been established in the country. Looking at the rising number of cancer patients, custom duty on many cancer medicines has been waived off,” she furthered.

• Upliftment of the women: The president insisted that the government believes in women-led development. She pointed out that three crore people are getting the benefits of the “Lakhpati Didi Scheme”. " “It is a matter of great pride for the Parliament that today women in large numbers are flying fighter aircraft, joining Police and also leading corporates in the country…Our daughters are making the country proud by winning Olympic medals,” she added.

• Development of AI: While emphasising how the Indian youth are bringing glory to the country in the field of science, the president noted that India is also showing the world the way towards the promotion of Artificial Intelligence. “Today our youth is bringing glory to the country in every field from startups to sports to space…India is showing the way to the world in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and the adoption of technology,” she remarked. “Our aim is to make India a global innovation powerhouse…In the area of artificial intelligence, the India AI Mission has been started,” she added.

• E-commerce: In regards to the promotion of MSMEs, the president said: “Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs and e-commerce export hubs are encouraging business in all sectors in the country.”

• Digital India: While speaking on Digital India, the president lauded the success of UPI. “Today, India is making its presence felt as a major global player in the field of digital technology…Developed nations of the world are also impressed with the success of India’s UPI transactions system…My Government has used digital technology as a tool for social justice and equality,” the president asserted. Murmu also mentioned how her government will be countering cybercrime and deepfakes.“My Government is continuously working towards ensuring efficiency in cyber security. Digital fraud, cybercrime and DeepFake are serious challenges to social, financial and national security,” she said.

• Connectivity: In the joint session, the president also addressed how the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project will connect railway lines from Kashmir to Kanyakumari." She also hailed the developments made in the aviation sector. “The country’s aviation sector is progressing rapidly with the airline companies placing orders of 1700 new aircraft,” the president said. She also pointed out how the Indian metro rail network has crossed the 1000-kilometre milestone.

As the president’s address comes to an end, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will now table the 2024-2025 Economic Survey.