New Delhi: Ram Nath Kovind is at Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat ahead of his swearing-in ceremony today.
He will take oath as India’s 14th President today at a ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament at 12:15 pm.
At Rajghat, accompanied by his wife, he placed flowers at the samadhi and paid his respects before the memorial. Kovind will now be heading to Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will be received by President Mukherjee. Both will then proceed to Parliament.
Outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee and Kovind will arrive in the Central Hall in a ceremonial procession, where Kovind will be administered oath by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar.
He will then exchange seats with Mukherjee. A 21-gun salute will be given in his honour and the new President will then deliver his address.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, union ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Ambassadors and other diplomats, MPs and senior civil and military officers will be among those present.
Kovind will address MPs at 12:23. The swearing-in ceremony concludes at 12:43.
After the ceremony ends, the new President will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan at 12:57 where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to him in its forecourt. Mukherjee will leave for his new address – 10 Rajaji Marg.
