Ram Nath Kovind to take oath as country's 14th President today

Mr Ram Nath Kovind will today be sworn in as the 14th President of the country at an impressive ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament here. Mr Kovind, the second Dalit President after KR Narayanan, will be administered oath by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar at 1215 hrs. The ceremony will be attended by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior members of the Cabinet, chief ministers, governors, heads of diplomatic missions, former prime ministers and leaders of political parties and MPs.

Mr Kovind, who had been fielded by the ruling BJP-led NDA, was elected as President on July 20 after a keen contest with Joint Opposition candidate Meira Kumar. He will be succeeding President Pranab Mukherjee whose term as 13th President of the country ends today. The 71-year-old Kovind will also be the first BJP-RSS man to be installed at the country's highest Constutional post. The President and the President elect will arrive in a ceremonial procession to the Central Hall of Parliament from Rashtrapati Bhawan.

After Mr Kovind has taken oath, he will be given a 21-gun salute. This will be followed by an adddress by the newly installed President. After the Central Hall ceremony is over, the President will proceed back to Rashtrapati Bhawan where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to him in the four court and courtesies will be extended to the outgoing President.