India a messenger of peace in conflict-ridden world: Prez Murmu in address to nation
New Delhi (PTI): Amidst geopolitical tensions escalating across multiple continents, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said India is spreading the message of peace in the world which is crucial to secure the future of humanity.
In her address to the nation on the eve of 77th Republic Day, she spoke about various issues including Operation Sindoor and women empowerment, and also touched upon the topics of Vande Mataram and growing economy of the country.
President Murmu outlined India's position as a "messenger" of peace while reinforcing ancient civilisational commitment to universal harmony.
"In our tradition, we have been offering prayers for peace to prevail in the entire universe. The future of humanity can remain secure only if there is peace in the whole world.
"In an atmosphere marked by conflicts in many parts of the world, India is spreading the message of peace," she said.
During her speech, the President also underscored a firm commitment to national security by highlighting the recent success of Operation Sindoor, a precision strike that dismantled terror infrastructure across the border.
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"Last year, our country launched precision strikes against terror infrastructure...terror centres were destroyed, and many terrorists met their end," she said, highlighting country's "self-reliance" in the field of defence that powered the historic success of Operation Sindoor.
Reflecting on the strength of the Armed Forces, the President recalled personal visits to the Siachen Base Camp and sorties in the Sukhoi, Rafale, and the submarine INS Vaghsheer.
"Based on the strength of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, people have complete trust in our defence-preparedness," she said, linking the military readiness to India's ability to advocate for peace from a position of strength.
In her address, President Murmu hailed the rise of "nari shakti" (women power) as the cornerstone of India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
She emphasised that the "active and empowered participation of women is extremely important for the development of the country".
From the depths of rural self-help groups to the frontiers of space and defence, the story of modern India is increasingly being written by its daughters, she said.
The President noted that over 10 crore women associated with self-help groups are currently redefining the grassroots economy.
She said that women now make up nearly 46 per cent of representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is set to take political empowerment to "unprecedented heights", ensuring women-led development remains a national priority.
The past year served as a "golden chapter" for Indian women in the global arena, the President said, as she took special pride in the dominance of India's daughters in sports, specifically citing the historic win at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and victory in the Blind Women's T20 World Cup.
President Murmu highlighted that women are making significant marks in the Armed Forces, space research, and entrepreneurship, proving that no field remains a "traditional stereotype" for the women in the country.
The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign was credited with encouraging girls' education across the country, she said.
"With increasing contribution by women, our country will set an example of an inclusive Republic based on gender equality," the President remarked, signalling that the future of Viksit Bharat is inseparable from the empowerment of its female citizens.
She also underscored India's transformative progress in poverty alleviation, noting that millions of citizens who struggled with poverty for decades have finally been lifted above the poverty line.
Embodying the spirit of 'Antyodaya', the government's focus remains on ensuring these citizens do not fall back into the "poverty trap", she said.
The President affirmed the core ideal that "no one should go hungry in our country", with various central government schemes currently providing vital support to nearly 81 crore beneficiaries.
She emphasized that the path to a 'Viksit Bharat' must be inclusive with special focus placed on tribal and marginalised communities through targeted interventions.
"Such efforts for the welfare of the poor give concrete shape to Mahatma Gandhi's ideal of Sarvodaya (progress for all)," she said.
President Murmu also announced that the Constitution of India is now available in all 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule and said the milestone aims to foster "constitutional nationalism", allowing citizens to engage with the nation's foundational document in their mother tongue.
The initiative is part of a broader shift toward "good governance" based on mutual trust, where the gap between the government and the general public is being systematically closed through technology and legislative reform, she said.
The administration has pivoted toward a citizen-centric model by stripping away bureaucratic hurdles. Key efforts include deregulation of thousands of unnecessary rules that have been repealed and compliance requirements eliminated, she added.
The President highlighted that national goals are now being achieved through unprecedented public participation, transforming government campaigns into powerful mass movements.
A primary example of this "revolutionary change" is India's global leadership in the digital economy. Today, more than half of the world's digital transactions occur within India, she said.
Emphasising that building a Viksit Bharat is a "shared responsibility", she called upon local institutions in every village and city to act as instruments of progressive change.
She also highlighted a significant push toward cultural decolonisation saying the government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating the "vestiges of colonial mindset" in a time-bound manner.
The President said that today's India is moving forward with a renewed self-confidence, rooted deeply in its glorious traditions and a "Gyan Bharatam" (knowledgeable India) approach.
She emphasized that self-reliance is not merely economic but also cultural and by placing a renewed emphasis on Indian languages and indigenous knowledge systems, the state is providing a distinct cultural foundation for its pursuit of total self-reliance.
President Murmu hailed India's ascent as the world's fastest-growing major economy, attributing this resilience to deep structural reforms and a commitment to self-reliance.
Despite a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, India is now firmly on track to become the world's third-largest economy in the near future, she said.
A cornerstone of this economic transformation has been the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which the President described as the most significant decision for economic integration since Independence.
She said that the journey toward becoming the third largest economy is being guided by the twin principles of 'atmanirbharta' and 'swadeshi' and the government's focus on world-class infrastructure and labour reforms is expected to further accelerate the development of enterprises.
The President also highlighted the ongoing celebrations marking 150 years since the composition of 'Vande Mataram'.
In her address, she emphasised how 'Vande Mataram' transcended linguistic barriers to unify the masses during the freedom struggle. She remarked that translations into various Indian languages have further cemented the song as a universal symbol of oneness.
"From north to south and from east to west, the fabric of our ancient cultural unity was woven by our ancestors. Every effort to promote this spirit of oneness through 'Vande Mataram' is highly commendable," the President added.
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Class 12 final exams of Odisha board begin amid tight security
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The class 12 final examinations of the Odisha board began on Wednesday amid heavy security, officials said.
A total of 4.01 lakh students are appearing for the exams being conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, across 1,364 centres, they said.
The exams began with Science papers, while those for the Arts and Commerce streams will start on Friday. The exam will continue till March 28, they added.
A total of 2.56 lakh students are enrolled in the Arts stream, 1.14 lakh in Science, and 24,621 in Commerce, CHSE's Controller of Examinations Prasanta Kumar Parida said.
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There are also 5,932 students of vocational studies, he said.
The exam began at 10 am and will end at 1 pm, he added
Parida said live streaming of all examination centres has been made available, while 211 question paper hubs are being monitored with "AI technology".
Special squads have been deployed to conduct surprise inspections to check any malpractices, he added.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended greetings to all the students appearing for the examination.
"The examination is a beautiful reflection of your knowledge and hard work. There is no need to put any fear or stress in your mind for it. Remember, your performance will be of high quality only if you appear for the examination not under pressure, but with patience," he posted on X.
The practical examinations were conducted between January 2 and 15.
