NEW DELHI: President-elect Ram Nath Kovind has been sworn-in as the 14th President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday in a glittering ceremony.
Chief Justice J.S. Khehar administered the new President at a ceremonial function in the Parliament House.
Kovind, a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee last Thursday won the presidential elections by defeating Opposition candidate Meira Kumar.
After final round of counting, Kovind got 7,02,044 votes out of a total of 10,69,358 while his opponent and former Lok Sabha speaker Kumar secured 3,67,314 votes.
Here are the live updates:
We are diverse, yet united and one, says President Ram Nath Kovind.
Every Indian contributing to nation building.
I come from a very simple background and the journey has been long: President
I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr.Radhakrishnan, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Pranab da: President
I am accepting this position with all humility and I am grateful for this responsibility: Ram Nath Kovind
Ram Nath Kovind takes oath as President.
All those present in the Parliament Central Hall stand for the national anthem.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Chief Justice J.S. Khehar being escorted to the stage where Kovind will be administered the oath of office.
President-elect, Pranab Mukherjee reach Parliament House and are going towards the central hall where Kovind will take the oath as the 14th President.
President-elect, Pranab Mukherjee leave for Parliament House, where the swearing-in ceremony will take place shortly.
Vice-President, PM, CMs, MPs, present at the ceremony.
President-elect Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Rashtrapati Bhavan from his 10, Akbar Road residence. (READ MORE)
Before the ceremony, Kovind visited visit the Rajghat where he paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM to enable members participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the President. (READ MORE)
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 PM to allow members to participate in the President's swearing-in ceremony.
The outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee and Kovind had a one-on-one discussion on important files and policies before leaving for the Central hall.
At the Parliament, both were received by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Stage would be shared by President and President-elect, Speaker, Vice President and Chief Justice of India. After the oath of new President a 21-gun salute will be honored followed by the acceptance speech of President elect Kovind.
After the event the new president and Mukherjee will proceed towards Rashtrapati Bhavan where outgoing President will give Kovind a tour of the official residence.
Following which, the new president will proceed towards his new residence - 10, Rajaji Marg.
A lawyer by profession, Kovind has worked extensively in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Kovind has been the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Scheduled Caste Morcha chief (1998-2002) and the President of the All-India Koli Samaj. He also served as the national spokesperson of the party. The saffron party had even tired to project him as an alternative to Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh.
He was enrolled as an advocate in 1971 with the Bar Council of Delhi. He became the Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court in 1978 and practised in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for about 16 years till 1993.
He was appointed as the Governor of Bihar on August 8, 2015. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh during the two terms of 1994-2000 and 2000-2006.
Kovind served as member of the board of management of the BR Ambedkar University, Lucknow. He also served as member of board of governors of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.
Kovind also represented India in United Nations (New York) and addressed the UN General Assembly in October, 2002.