- Overview: The President of India is required to address both Houses of Parliament at the start of each year and after each general election.
- Special Address: The address is known as the “special address” and is a yearly feature. No other business is conducted until the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament.
- Venue: The President’s Address must be delivered to both Houses of Parliament assembled together.
- Exceptions: If the Lok Sabha is dissolved at the start of a year, the Rajya Sabha may meet without the President’s Address. In 1977, this exception was exercised.
- First Session After General Election: In the case of the first session after a general election, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament after the members have taken their oaths and the Speaker has been elected.
- Content: The President’s Address is the government’s statement of policy and is drafted by the government. It contains a review of the government’s activities and achievements in the previous year, sets out its policies, and outlines the proposed legislative business for the year.
Address to Parliament
- The President of India addressed both Houses of Parliament
- India has completed 75 years of independence and entered the ‘Amrit Kaal’
- The 25-year span is an opportunity to build a developed India
Vision for India
- To build a self-reliant nation that fulfills humanitarian obligations
- To eliminate poverty and have a prosperous middle class
- To have diverse and united society with youth and women at the forefront
Significance of Amrit Kaal
- This period will be viewed with a different perspective in 2047 when India becomes a developed nation
Government’s Mantra
- The government’s mantra is “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”
- The government has been in power for almost 9 years and has brought positive changes in India
- India is emerging as a solution provider for global problems and is the 5th largest economy in the world
Government’s Work
- The government is actively engaged in nation building
- The government is stable, decisive, and working for public welfare
- The government is committed to removing obstacles faced by women and preserving heritage while embracing modernity
- The government is playing a rightful role on the global stage.
Decisive Government
- A stable government has been elected for two consecutive terms and has always prioritized the country’s interest.
- The government is known for its decisive actions, such as surgical strikes and a crackdown on terrorism.
Fighting Corruption
- The government is determined to fight corruption, and has enacted laws to support this goal.
- The Benami Property Act, Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, and Government-e-Marketplace (GeM) system were put in place to help fight corruption.
Transparency and Ease of Doing Business
- Efforts were made to simplify the tax system and bring transparency to the assessment process.
- The Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity, One Nation One Ration Card, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiatives have provided greater transparency and efficiency to the distribution of government benefits.
Poverty Eradication
- Poverty eradication is no longer just a slogan, but a goal the government is working towards.
- The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has provided free treatment to over 50 crore people, saving them from falling into deeper poverty.
- The Jan Aushadhi scheme provides low-cost medicines, saving the poor an estimated Rupees 20,000 crore.
Empowering the Poor
- The Jal Jeevan Mission provides piped water supply to over 11 crore families.
- More than three and a half crore poor families have been provided with pucca houses, improving their living conditions and self-confidence.
- The government has launched several other initiatives aimed at empowering the poor and providing permanent solutions to their problems.
Welfare of poor
- The Indian government has prioritized the welfare of the poor during the Covid pandemic, with the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana providing free food grains to the poor with a transparent technology-assisted delivery system.
- The vision for holistic development of India requires addressing the hopes and aspirations of different regions and classes of society.
Empowering Small Businesses
- The government has made banking services available to small vendors through the PM SVANidhi scheme, providing collateral-free loans and incentives for digital transactions.
Empowering Small Farmers
- 11 crore small farmers have been prioritized, receiving financial aid of over Rupees 2.25 lakh crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
- The government has also linked cattle bearers and fishermen with Kisan Credit Cards, and made efforts to increase crop insurance, soil health card coverage, and MSP of crops.
Empowering Deprived Communities
- Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes are being empowered through socio-economic empowerment programs and constitutional recognition.
- More than 36,000 tribal-dominated villages are being developed under the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana, with the opening of 400 Eklavya Model Schools and 3,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in tribal areas.
- The National Commission for Backward Classes has been given constitutional status, and a Welfare and Development Board has been established for Banjara, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.
Improving Aspirational Districts and Blocks
- The government has declared over 100 districts as aspirational districts, and is now working to develop 500 blocks as aspirational blocks for institutionalized social justice.
- The North East and border areas are being developed in the face of difficult terrain and unrest, with the government making successful steps towards peace and development in these areas.
Women Empowerment
- Government has made women empowerment a priority
- The welfare schemes aim to provide new opportunities and make life easier for women
- Success of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign has led to an increase in the number of daughters
- From education to careers, government is removing obstacles for women
- Recruitment in every sector is open to women, including the army
- 70% of the beneficiaries of Mudra Yojana are women entrepreneurs
- Women’s self-confidence has been boosted by various schemes
- 80 lakh self-help groups are functioning in the country, with government assistance
Heritage and Development
- Government is consolidating heritage and giving priority to development
- Pilgrimage centres and historical legacy are being developed
- India is becoming a major space power and a hub of hi-tech knowledge
- India is strengthening the spirit of “Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat”
- India’s strength in digital technology is being acknowledged globally
Moving forward with the inspiration of ‘Panch Prāns’
- Government trying to get rid of slave mentality
- Rajpath renamed as Kartavya Path
Honoring the valour of national leaders and army
- Statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path
- Foundation stone of memorial and museum dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
- 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar named after Param Vir Chakra awardees
- National War Memorial symbolizes national valour
- Navy got insignia from Chhatrapati Veer Shivaji Maharaj
- Museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Panchteerth built
- Prime Minister’s Museum showcasing contribution of every Prime Minister
Observing National Days with pride and reverence
- Veer Bal Diwas observed with pride
- Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas initiated to keep history alive
Fruits of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat
- Increasing manufacturing capacity and foreign companies coming to India
- Manufacturing semiconductor chips and aeroplanes in India
- Exports of goods made in India increasing
- India now a major exporter of mobile phones
- Decreased import of toys and increased export
- Defence exports have grown 6 times
- Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joined forces
- Increased Khadi and rural industries turnover
Emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship
- Youth power harnessed through innovation
- India ranked 40th in Global Innovation Index, from 81st
- Almost 90,000 registered start-ups in India
Connecting youth with country through sports and armed forces
- Agniveer Yojana launched for youth to serve in armed forces
- Sportspersons performed well in Commonwealth Games, Olympics and Para Games
- Khelo India Games and Khelo India Centers to spot and nurture sporting talents
Sensitive to welfare of Divyang
- Sign language and Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan helping Divyang youth
Infrastructure
- Two major challenges faced in building infrastructure in India: project delays and departmental inefficiencies.
- PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan to tackle these challenges and expand multi-modal connectivity.
- Government striving to make India a competitive logistics hub with the National Logistics Policy.
Rapid Progress in Infrastructure and Development
- 11,000 houses built daily for the poor under Awas Yojana.
- 2.5 lakh people connected to broadband daily.
- 55,000 gas connections daily.
- Loans worth over Rupees 700 crore disbursed daily under Mudra Yojana.
- One medical college established monthly in the last 8-9 years.
- Two colleges established daily and a university every week.
- 220 crore vaccine doses administered in 2 years.
Expansion of Social Infrastructure
- 145 medical colleges opened between 2004-2014, 260 opened 2014-2022.
- Graduate/postgraduate medical seats doubled.
- 725 universities before 2014, 300 new universities in last 8 years.
- 5000 new colleges in the same period.
Growth of Physical Infrastructure
- Rural roads grew from 3.81 lakh km to 7 lakh km under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
- 99% habitations connected by road.
- 55% growth in National Highway network.
- 550 districts to be connected by highways under Bharatmala project.
- Aviation sector grew: 74 airports to 147. India is now 3rd largest aviation market.
- Indian Railways modernizing and expanding.
- Rapid growth in green energy (solar, ethanol, Hydrogen Mission) and electric mobility.
