The Republic of India gets a new guardian for its Constitution, the 14th leader to reside at the highest post at Raisina Hill, the Chief Commander of Indian Armed Forces and the First Citizen of the State of India – Ram Nath Kovind.

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Arriving in a ceremonial six-horse buggy at the traditional Presidential oath ceremony at Parliamentary House, Ram Nath Kovind has just sworn in as the 14th President of India. As a little boy, Kovind was raised in the suburbs of Uttar Pradesh and he has had a long, long journey from being the Dalit leader of BJP to Governor of Bihar and now he has made his way to becoming the President of India. Dressed in a black safari suit, accompanied by his wife, Kovind swore in and the oath ceremony was followed by a grand 21-gunfire salute.

As per tradition, after taking oath, President Ram Nath Kovind exchanged seats with former President Pranab Mukherjee and took over his post. The oath ceremony was attended by all political leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Union Ministers, senior BJP leaders, chief ministers of several states. This was followed by first speech from new President during which he thanked voters for electing him, took it down to the memory lane by describing his journey from a tiny village to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and promised to complete his duties towards the nation dutifully.

After the completion of this ceremony, the new president will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will be honoured by inter-service guards in the forecourt and courtesies will be extended to the outgoing president. Then, outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee will give Kovind a tour to the official residence – the Rashtrapati Bhavan and hand over all the duties to the 14th President for the next five years.

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