President Ram Nath Kovind is addressing a joint sitting of both the houses of Parliament at the Central Hall today. The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha is underway with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other lawmakers taking oath as MPs.

President Kovind shared the plan for the next five years as he touched upon issues such as National Register of Citizens, triple talaq, surgical strikes and One Nation, One Election in the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Om Birla was on Wednesday unanimously elected speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha and pledged impartial oversight of the Lower House over the next five years after an acrimonious general election.

The Parliament session will continue till July 26. The Economic Survey will be presented on July 4 followed by the Union Budget for 2019- 20 on July 5.

Here are the highlights:

12:18 am IST President Kovind stresses on ‘One Nation, One Election’ system In his concluding remarks, President Ram Nath Kovind says, “We need to bring in one nation one election system so that the country can grow faster.” “My advice to all MPs is that you should always remember the fundamental mantra of Gandhiji. He had said that every decision of ours should be guided by its impact on the poorest and the weakest person in the society. You must also remember the voter who setting aside all his work and overcoming his difficulties went to the polling station to cast his vote and discharge his responsibilities towards the nation. Your priority should be to fulfil his aspirations,” President Kovind said.





12:05 am IST National security paramount for my govt: President Kovind President says,“National security paramount for my government, surgical strike and air strike on terror camps have made India’s intentions clear”, reports news agency PTI.





12:03 am IST Govt working to modernise armed forces: President Kovind The government is working to modernise the armed forces. India will get its first Rafale fighter jet and apache helicopter in the near future, says President Kovind.





12:02 am IST MPs must consider one nation,one poll proposal: President Ram Nath Kovind ‘It is important to implement ‘one nation, one election’ so that the country develops at a fast pace and benefits from it. I urge the MPs to give this issue serious consideration.”





11:59 am IST Govt will work to make rivers pollution free: President Kovind “My government will work to make rivers like Cauvery, Periyar, Mahanadi, Narmada and Godavari pollution free”, reports news agency PTI.





11:57am IST 7.3 lakh crore transferred to people under direct benefit transfer: President Kovind “7.3 lakh crore transferred to people under direct benefit transfer in last 5 years. Over 1.41 lakh crore saved as 8 crore fake beneficiaries weeded out”, reports news agency PTI.





11:55 am IST Govt will implement NRC on priority: President Kovind The government will implement the NRC on a priority in areas where the problem of illegal immigrants in rampant, says President Kovind.





11:53 am IST World standing with India on issue of terror: President Ram Nath Kovind President Kovind says, “World is standing with India on the issue of terror, UN’s declaration of Masood Azhar as global terrorist is the proof”, reports news agency PTI.





11:52 am IST Zero tolerance to corruption: President Ram Nath Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind says, “My government will make its policy of zero tolerance towards corruption more expansive and effective”,reports news agency PTI.





11:46 am IST India’s scientists are preparing to launch Chandrayan 2: President Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind says, “India’s scientists are preparing to launch Chandrayan 2. Work on sending the first Indian to space is also progressing at a face pace.”





11:44 am IST New govt main objective was to build a secure nation: President Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday told a joint session of Parliament that the new government’s main objective was to build a secure nation, reports news agency IANS.





11:42 am IST ‘One nation, one tax, one market’ has become a reality: President Kovind The concept of ‘One nation, one tax, one market’ has become a reality after the implementation of GST. Efforts to simplify the GST will continue, said the president.





11:41 am IST Govt working to increase seats in higher educational institutes by 50%: President Kovind President Kovind says,“My government working to increase seats in higher educational institutes by 50 per cent by 2024, will create 2 crore more seats”, reports news agency PTI.





11:39 am IST India among the countries having most number of start-ups: President Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind addressing joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament: Today, India is among the countries in the world that have most number of start-ups. pic.twitter.com/pM0vLVezRr — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





11:34 am IST Removing practices like triple talaq will ensure equal rights for women: President Kovind President Kovind says,“It is important to rid of triple talaq and halala practices to ensure equal rights for women in the country. I appeal to the members to extend their cooperation in making the lives of our sisters and daughters better”. President Ram Nath Kovind: To ensure equal rights for women, it is important to do away with practices like 'Triple Talaq' and Nikah-Halala.' pic.twitter.com/gLEQmmJ7Lf — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





11:31 am IST 26 lakh patients benefitted from Ayushman Bharat scheme: President Kovind President Kovind says, “26 lakh poor patients have benefitted from Ayushman Bharat scheme, 1.5 wellness centres likely to function by 2022”, reports news agency PTI.





11:29 am IST Govt providing residential, health facilities to poor: President Kovind President Kovind says, “My government is giving residential, health facilities to poor as poverty can be removed only by empowering them”, reports news agency PTI.





11:26 am IST Work underway to develop the 112 ‘aspiration districts’: President Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind addressing joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament: Work is underway on a large scale to develop the 112 ‘aspiration districts’ of the country, reports news agency ANI. President Ram Nath Kovind addressing joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament: Work is underway on a large scale to develop the 112 'aspiration districts' of the country. pic.twitter.com/UHkhrPuBN0 — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





11:24 am IST Govt moving ahead to create strong, secure, inclusive India: President Kovind President Kovind says, “My government moving ahead to create strong, secure and inclusive India”, reports news agency PTI.





11:21 am IST President Kovind: Govt working to ensure banking services are available in northeast President says, “The government is working at a fast pace to ensure that banking services are available in villages and the northeast.”





11: 20 am IST President Kovind: Scholarship amount for children of martyred soldiers hiked The scholarship amount for children of martyred soldiers from the National Defence Fund has been hiked. For the first time, children of slain state police personnel have been included in this scheme.





11:19 am IST PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will be extended to every farmer: President Kovind It has been decided to extend the scheme of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to every farmer in the country.





11:17 am IST One of the biggest challenges is water crisis: President Kovind President says, “One of the biggest challenges of 21st century is water crisis. Climate change and global warming will lead to worsening of this problem. We have to conserve water for our future generations. In this direction, creation of Jal Shakti Ministry is a decisive step.”





11:12 am IST Govt working for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: President Ram Nath Kovind President Kovind: “In this Lok Sabha elections, more than 61 crore citizens cast their vote and set a new record. The people of India gave a clear mandate. The govt is working for ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, reports news agency ANI. President Ram Nath Kovind: In this Lok Sabha elections, more than 61 crore citizens cast their vote and set a new record. The people of India gave a clear mandate. The govt is working for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. pic.twitter.com/x0pN7DovWO — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





11:11 am IST Public has given a clear mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections: President Kovind President Kovind said the public has given a clear mandate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “In the last 5 years, citizens were convinced the government is for them,” he said.





11:10 am IST President congratulates Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla President Ram Nath Kovind congratulates new Om Birla on his election as the speaker of the Lok Sabha.





11:06 am IST President Ram Nath Kovind begins his address President Ram Nath Kovind begins his address of the joint session of both the Houses at the Parliament. Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind begins his address of the joint session of both the Houses at the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/hcqauYbyxZ — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





10:59 am IST President Ram Nath Kovind has arrived at the Parliament President Ram Nath Kovind has arrived at the Parliament. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and PM Narendra Modi. Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind arrives at the Parliament pic.twitter.com/v5kVCCSxiK — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





10:53 am IST President Kovind enroute to Parliament, to address the joint sitting of both the Houses Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind enroute to Parliament, to address the joint session of both the Houses today. pic.twitter.com/ff6ngpzra1 — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





10:52 am IST Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal commented on slogans Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on slogans raised by members during oath-ceremony in Lok Sabha: Our mantra is 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' with 'sabka vishwas', we want to win everyone's trust. pic.twitter.com/JxgReCmqS0 — ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2019





10:48 am IST President Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Parliament President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament. Both, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, will start proceedings after the conclusion of the president’s address.





10:35 am IST ‘Won’t allow chanting of religious slogans in Parliament’: Speaker Om Birla Newly elected Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said on Wednesday that he would not allow a repeat of the chanting of religious slogans or the heckling that greeted some Opposition MPs when they were being sworn in on Tuesday. “I don’t think Parliament is the place for sloganeering, for showing placards, or for coming to the well. There is a road for that where they can go and demonstrate. Whatever people want to say here, whatever allegations they have, however they want to attack the government they can, but they can’t come to the gallery and do all this,’’ Birla said after his unanimous election as speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.





09:46 am IST PM Modi to constitute a committee on ‘one nation, one poll’ After the conclusion of over three-hour long all-party meeting, Union Minister Rajnath Singh said that PM Modi will constitute a committee on the issue of ‘one nation, one poll’.





09:44 am IST ‘Will run the House in impartial manner’: Om Birla Newly-elected Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said he will run the House in an impartial manner, while asserting that the chair should not be biased, reports news agency PTI. Addressing the House after being unanimously elected as the speaker, Birla assured the members that he will preside over the proceedings in accordance with rules and regulations and “safeguard the interests of the members irrespective of the strength of their parties in the House”.





09:43 am IST ‘He will discipline and inspire us’: PM on Om Birla PM Modi says, “ Now that such a sensitive person has been elected the speaker, he will discipline as well as inspire us.





09:42 am IST BJP MP Om Birla elected speaker of Lok Sabha on Wednesday BJP MP from Kota, Om Birla, elected speaker of 17th Lok Sabha after his name was proposed by MPs of various parties. The motion was moved by PM Modi and passed by voice vote.





09:39 am IST First day of Rajya Sabha Thursday will also be the first day of Rajya Sabha since the election of a new government.



