Ram Nath Kovind to be 14th President of India: Here is how swearing-in ceremony takes place

National Democratic Allaince’s (NDA) presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, after defeating Opposition candidate Meira Kumar with an overwhelming majority, was on Thursday elected to be the 1 4th President of India .

Kovind, only second Dalit to hold the top constitutional position, will be sworn in by the Chief Justice of India JS Khehar in the Central Hall of Parliament on 25 July, when the term of incumbent Pranab Mukherjee ends.

Here is how the swearing in ceremony of the President of India takes place:

Ram Nath Kovind will take oath a day after President Pranab Mukherjee demits office, on 24 July. The President-elect is required to take the oath in the presence of the Chief Justice of India or in his absence, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court.

The President-elect takes an oath or affirmation in the following form:  “I, A.B., do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of India and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of India.”.

The rehearsal of President’s swearing in ceremony was held on 16 July at New Delhi’s Vijay Chowk, ANI had reported. The President’s Bodyguard (PBG), a ceremonial unit, will escort the newly sworn in President to the president’s official residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan.

According to the  Article 56 of the Constitution of India, the President shall hold office for a term of 5 years from the date on which he enters the office. He shall, however, continue to hold office notwithstanding the expiry of his term, until his successor enters upon his office.