Govt worked to lift economy out of policy paralysis: President Droupadi Murmu addresses joint Budget session

Referring to the turbulence and uncertainty in different parts of the world, she said, “In an environment of global instability, India is emerging as a pillar of economic, social and political stability, setting an example for the world. Whether it is the G7 Summit, Quad, BRICS, SCO or G20, the world has placed its trust in India’s strength, policy and intent.”

Listing the Modi government’s achievements in the last decade, Murmu — she began her address by paying homage to late Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — cited its decisions on issues such as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the proposed legislation on ‘One Nation One Election’.

She said the government has placed special focus on the education of the youth and creating new job opportunities for them. The PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme, she said, has offered financial assistance to meritorious students for higher education, while one crore youth will be given internship opportunities in the top 500 companies.

She said it was this government that had, for the first time, openly acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of the middle class on every occasion.

Pointing out that India has achieved tremendous success in digitisation, she referred to the challenge of digital crimes. “… in an increasingly digital society, cybersecurity has become a crucial issue of national importance. Digital fraud, cybercrime and emerging technologies like deepfakes pose challenges to our social, economic and national security. My government has taken numerous measures to control these cyber threats, creating opportunities for employment in the field of cybersecurity for the youth.” The government, she said, is “continuously working to ensure competence in cybersecurity. As a result of these efforts, India has achieved Tier-1 status in the Global Cybersecurity Index”.

Declaring that the government has Viksit Bharat as its only goal, Murmu said it is working with a “saturation approach” to see that “no one is left behind” in that journey. “There is the collective strength of public participation, a roadmap for the nation’s economic progress, the power of technology in the form of a digital revolution, and the foundation of modern infrastructure.”

“The government is steering India towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy… Despite global concerns such as the Covid-19 pandemic, its aftermath, and war-related uncertainties, the Indian economy has demonstrated remarkable stability and resilience, proving its strength,” she said.

She also referred to the ongoing Kumbh Mela — it led to noisy protests from Opposition benches. “Maha Kumbh is a festival of India’s cultural and social consciousness. Millions of devotees from across the country and the world have taken the holy dip at Prayagraj,” she said, expressing “sorrow over the unfortunate incident that occurred on Mauni Amavasya and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured”.  This was a reference to the stampede at the Sangam that left 30 dead and 60 injured.

The middle class

In her address, the President referred to the middle class eight times — amid the countdown to the Delhi Assembly election next week. In her address to Parliament in June 2024, just after the Lok Sabha election results that saw the BJP tally dip to 240, there was no mention of the middle class.

She linked economic progress to the “aspirations of the middle class and the fulfilment of those aspirations”.

“The bigger the dreams of the middle class are, the higher the nation soars. It is my government that has, for the first time, openly acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of the middle class on every occasion,” Murmu said.

She listed the steps that the government had taken for the middle class. “Government employees are also significant representatives of the middle class. Recently, my government decided to constitute the Eighth Pay Commission for the welfare of government employees. This decision will lay the foundation for substantial salary increases for government employees in the coming years.”

“Additionally, the Central government has decided to provide a 50% assured pension to lakhs of employees under the Unified Pension Scheme, which has been widely welcomed,” she said, adding, “My government is equally committed to fulfilling the middle class’s dream of owning a home. Laws like RERA have been introduced to safeguard their dreams. Subsidies on home loans are being provided. Through the UDAN scheme, about 1.5 crore people have fulfilled their dream of flying in airplanes. Jan Aushadhi Kendras, offering medicines at 80% concessional rates, have helped save more than Rs 30,000 crore for citizens. The multifold increase in the number of seats for education in various disciplines has significantly benefited the middle class.”

In the pre-Budget speech last year, the President’s reference to the middle class came when she mentioned the discount the poor and the middle classes were receiving while booking railway and air tickets.

No mention of Emergency

Unlike the post-Lok Sabha poll address that contained critical references to the Emergency, there was no mention of it this time though this year will mark 50 years of the imposition of Emergency.

Refers to N-E, not Manipur

Without mentioning violence-hit Manipur, the address this time made specific references to the North-East. “My government is conscious of the aspirations of the people of the North-East and has worked to eliminate their sense of alienation. Through more than 10 peace agreements, several factions have been brought onto the path of peace,” Murmu said.

In June 2024, too, she had referred to the government’s efforts for lasting peace in the North-East in the last 10 years, with no specific mention of Manipur.