Highlights: President Pranab Mukherjee addresses joint session of Parliament

New Delhi: The Budget Session of Parliament commenced with the address of President Pranab Mukherjee today. During the session, the Rail Budget will be presented on 25th and General Budget on 29th of this month. The first phase of the Session will come to an end on 16th of next month. The second phase will start from 25th April and conclude on 13th May.

While addressing the parliamentarians, he said that removing poverty and destitution from India was the ‘sacred responsibility' of the Indian government.

"Removing poverty and destitution is our most sacred responsibility. My government has launched three new social security and pension schemes and focused on the welfare of poors, farmers and jobs for the youth," said Mukherjee.

He said that the ‘development philosophy of the government was for the welfare of the farmers, who were a vital part for the nation's prosperity'.

"My government is placed in making this goal possible through financial inclusion and social security," he added.

Highlights of President's speech:

* Let us embrace those ideals as we stake our claim on the future

* In the words of Netaji, “Nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race, Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”: President

* It is time to repay that debt, by building the country that freedom fighters envisioned: President

* We owe a great debt to our freedom fighters: President

* Let us all collectively endeavour to build a flourishing and prosperous India: President

* I urge all MPs to discharge their solemn responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation: President

* Let noble thoughts come from all directions should be the spirit behind debate in this temple of democracy: President

* Our Parliament reflects the supreme will of the people: President

* It reinforced our cultural, commercial and strategic connect with our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood: President

* India's second International Fleet Review attended by 50 foreign navies: President

* My Government has fulfilled its commitment to implement four decades old demand of One Rank One Pension: President

* Acknowledgement must not hinge on ceremony or noble gestures of gratitude alone: President

* Government will constantly strive for smooth & constructive conduct of Parliamentary business: President Pranab Mukherjee

* Parliament reflects the supreme will of people. Democratic temper calls for debate & discussion & not disruption or obstruction: President

* Sabka Vikas means that backward sections of society are equally valued and are genuine stakeholders in the country's progress: President

* We must ensure that the poor and deprived are truly empowered to take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives: President Mukherjee

* My Government is focused on Sabka Vikas, beyond just the economic advancements that dominate headlines: President Pranab Mukherjee

* Government played a proactive role in addressing climate change by launching International Solar Alliance: President Pranab Mukherjee

* Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: the world is one family. My Government is committed to this principle: President

* We reached out to the world, both on land and sea: President Pranab Mukherjee

* Working to ensure that our Armed Forces will be equipped with the most capable and sophisticated armaments in the world: President

* Govt launched Gold Monetization Scheme & Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme in Nov 2015 to ensure productive utilization of idle assets: President

* Government's concerted efforts to tackle menace of black money have started yielding results: President

* Inflation, fiscal deficit & current account deficit have decreased. India recorded highest ever foreign exchange reserves in 2015: President

* GDP growth has increased making India the world's fastest growing economy among large economies: President

* Varanasi and Jaipur have been declared as the first two Indian cities to be part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network: President

* Building upon the success over the past year, my Government's endeavour is to scale new heights in Space: President

* The country recorded the highest ever software exports during 2015: President

* Twenty nine Electronic Manufacturing Clusters are under development: President

* Setting up world-class infrastructure for Electronics manufacturing across the country remains a priority for my Government: President

* Domestic Air Passenger traffic has registered a substantial growth during the year: President

* My Government is also working on a new Civil Aviation Policy with thrust on connectivity to small cities: President

* My Government has revived a majority of the 73 stalled road projects, completed construction of 7,200 km of highways: President

* By March 2019, under PMGSY, one lakh seventy eight thousand rural habitations will be connected with all weather roads: President

* Highest ever increase in rail capital expenditure was achieved in 2015: President

* My Government has initiated several ambitious measures for improving sanitation standards at Railway Stations & Trains: President

* The National Scholarship Portal provides a one-stop platform for applications for all scholarships: President

* National Institutional Ranking Framework has been launched for higher educational institutions: President

* My government has given impetus to research through the launch of IMPRINT India: President

* My Government aims to create a Shikshit Swasth Swachh Bharat, an educated, healthy and clean India #PresidentMukherjee

* My Government has launched Start-Up India campaign which would deepen, expand & support innovation eco system in country: President

* Udyog Aadhar Portal has been set up to facilitate online registration of MSMEs: President

* Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises provide large-scale employment: President

* Youth are future of country & ensuring Yuvaon ko Rojgaar through massive employment generation is a top goal for my government: President

* Make In India a success. Make in India initiative has achieved 39 per cent increase in FDI inflow despite adverse global investment climate: President

* Govt introduced dynamic & comprehensive reforms in Coal sector & conducted transparent auction/ allocation of over 70 coal blocks: President

* In the year 2015 India witnessed the highest ever generation of electricity: President

* Today under my Government, solar power is affordable and accessible to thousands of people: President

* Government has envisaged increasing the renewable energy capacity manifold to 175 GW by 2022: President

* Government has been unsparing in punishing those who are found guilty of corruption: President

* My Government has taken measures to eliminate the scope for corruption: President

* As part of the Namami Gange Programme, my government is implementing several projects in all 118 cities and complete sanitation solutions for 1,649 gram panchayats, on the banks of the holy Ganga: President

* Assistance to farmers afflicted by natural calamity has been increased by 50% and eligibility norms have been relaxed: President

* Government has launched farmer-friendly Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with lowest-ever premium rates for farmers: President

* My Government firmly believes economic development and environmental protection can co-exist: President

* During last year, 342 camps were conducted, aids & assistive devices distributed to over 1.7 lakh persons with disabilities: President

* My Government has launched the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: President

* Strong focus on holistic healthcare, strengthening Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Sowa-Rigpa & Homoeopathy : President

* Happy to inform we have successfully eliminated Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus well before global targeted timeline of December 2015: President

* My government's mission of skilling India has gained momentum: President

* Rural development is one of our top priorities: President

* Highest urea production was achieved in 2015. Government realises role of animal husbandry, dairy & fisheries sectors: President

* Government protecting Ambedkar legacy: President

* Inclusive development drives government: President

* Government is committed to the philosophy of 'per drop, more crop' : President

* Well being of farmers is vital to the nation's prosperity: President Pranab Mukherjee

* My government is committed to provide 'Housing for All': President

* MGNREGA sscheme has been revamped to ensure efficient disbursements of wages and creation of productive assets: President 

* My government has launched 3 new social security and pension schemes: President

* My government in particular is focussed on 'Garibon Ki Unnati', 'Kisano Ki Samridhi' and 'Yuvaon Ka Rozgar': President

* Development philosophy is captured in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas': President

* My government is placed in making this goal possible through financial inclusion and social security: President

* My government in particular is focused on the welfare of poor, farmers and jobs for the youth: President

* President starts addressing joint session of Parliament

* President reaches Parliament

* President Pranab Mukherjee leaves for Parliament

* I wish that the Parliament session will be fruitful and there is constructive criticism as well: PM Modi

* I am hopeful of a constructive Budget Session, says PM Narendra Modi

* PM Narendra Modi reaches Parliament for budget session.

* The government was not going to shutdown the Jawaharlal Nehru University. There are misconceptions that the university was going to be closed. These are all propaganda: Naidu

* The government was also ready to discuss the JNU row, Hyderabad issue or reservation, and it was not hesitating to discuss any issue if allowed by the chair

* Whether it is the rail budget, the general budget or the vote of thanks on the presidential address, the government is ready to discuss all issues after the budget gets passed in the Parliament: Naidu

* Government ready to discuss all issues the Congress wanted to be discussed in the Budget session of Parliament: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu

The government has prioritised 32 items for the session including 11 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha besides transacting financial business related to budget.

The Bills which will come up for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha include GST, Real Estate, Anti-Hijacking, National Waterways and Whistle Blowers Protection. In the Lok Sabha, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Amendment Bill is among others which will be taken up for discussion and passage.