President Droupadi Murmu presented the government’s agenda and work done over the last decade in her address to the joint sitting of the Parliament as the Budget session began on Wednesday. The speech positioned 2026 as the start of India’s second phase of the 21st century, arguing that the foundations laid over the past 10–11 years now enable a faster push toward the stated goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The address blended cultural symbolism with governance outcomes, placing emphasis on scale and delivery.
The address described the past decade as a period of consolidation across sectors. According to the government, these years strengthened institutional capacity in various sectors, including welfare delivery, infrastructure, manufacturing and policy reform.
Here are the key takeaways from the speech.
Social justice
Framing social justice with values associated with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Murmu highlighted key achievements of the Centre. The government claimed that 25 crore people have moved out of poverty in the last decade, attributing this to large-scale interventions in housing, water, cooking fuel and income support. Four crore permanent houses were built for the poor over ten years, with 32 lakh handed over in the last year alone.
The Jal Jeevan Mission has provided piped water to 12.5 crore households, including one crore new connections in the previous year. More than 10 crore LPG connections were extended under the Ujjwala Yojana. The address also highlighted the use of Direct Benefit Transfer, through which benefits worth ₹6.75 lakh crore were transferred directly to beneficiaries in the last year, positioning transparency as central to social justice.
Health and social security
The expansion of welfare was presented as a shift toward near-universal social security. Coverage has grown from 25 crore people in 2014 to about 95 crore today, according to the address. Health outcomes were used to substantiate this claim. Under Ayushman Bharat, more than 11 crore free hospital treatments have been provided so far, including 2.5 crore in the last year. Around one crore senior citizens have received Vay Vandana Cards, with nearly eight lakh accessing free inpatient care.
The spread of 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was cited as evidence of healthcare moving closer to households. Disease control efforts were also highlighted, including the screening of over 6.5 crore people for sickle cell anaemia, effective containment of Japanese Encephalitis in vulnerable districts, and the World Health Organisation declaring India free from trachoma. Insurance schemes for life and accident cover have disbursed claims exceeding ₹24,000 crore, providing financial support during crises.
Economy
The economic narrative focused on output growth, manufacturing capacity and connectivity. India recorded foodgrain production of over 350 million tonnes in the last year, including 150 million tonnes of rice, making it the world’s largest producer. The country is now the second-largest fish producer globally and the world’s largest milk producer, with cooperatives cited as a key driver. Manufacturing growth was highlighted through India’s position as the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with smartphone exports crossing Rs 1 lakh crore in the first five months of 2025–26.
Electric vehicles are now being exported to more than 100 countries. Infrastructure expansion was presented as the backbone of this growth. Over 18,000 kilometres of rural roads were added in the last year; Indian Railways is moving toward full electrification, and more than 150 Vande Bharat trains are operational. India’s metro network has crossed 1,000 kilometres, making it the third-largest globally, while national waterways have expanded from five to over 100.
Global positioning
Foreign policy was framed against a backdrop of global instability, with India portrayed as steady and pragmatic. The address highlighted India’s role as a bridge between competing blocs, maintaining balance while prioritising national interest. Over the past 11 years, India has attracted about $750 billion in foreign direct investment, reflecting growing global confidence. India’s engagement across platforms such as BRICS, G20, BIMSTEC and SCO was presented as evidence of its rising international profile. Humanitarian interventions in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan were cited to underline India’s role as a first responder. Holding the BRICS presidency and plans to host a Global AI Impact Summit were positioned as markers of India’s expanding influence in global governance.
