Reforms Express on track, government, increase in people's income: President Marmo

President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday that the government is continuously moving forward on the 'Reforms Express' path, citing recent reforms in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), new labor codes, and low inflation rates.
Addressing the joint session of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session, President Murmu said that in the last 11 years, the country's economic fundamentals have become very strong. Despite various global crises, India has become the fastest-growing major economy in the world. The record of keeping inflation low has improved further, which is directly benefiting the poor and middle-class families of the country.
She said that due to the government's policies, there has been an increase in the income of the country's citizens, savings have increased, and purchasing power has also increased. Congratulating the country's people for agreeing to a free trade agreement with the European Union, she termed it a historic step to boost India's manufacturing and service sectors and said that it will create countless new employment opportunities for the country's youth.
Ms. Murmu said that the government is on the 'Reforms Express' path and is continuously changing old laws and obligations according to the needs of the future.
She said that as a result of the reforms made in the GST, a saving of one lakh crore rupees has been ensured for the public. After the reduction in GST, the registration of two-wheelers crossed two crores in the year 2025, which is a new record in itself. The government has taken a historic decision to make tax zero on income up to 12 lakh rupees. She said that such reformative measures have benefited the poor and middle-class families immensely and have given a new pace to the country's economy.
President Murmu said that along with the emergence of new sectors, the country has implemented new labor laws to protect the interests of workers. For a long time, the country's workforce was entangled in dozens of laws, which have now been limited to just four codes. This has made it easier for workers to get fair wages, allowances, and other welfare benefits. The country's youth and women will benefit especially from this.
She informed that under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, almost two lakh crore rupees of investment have come so far, and production of more than one lakh 11 thousand crores has been done. The country's electronics sector is developing at an extraordinary pace. In the last 11 years, there has been a six-fold increase in electronics production, and it has reached 11 lakh crores.
Referring to the country's increasing global participation in investment and exports, she said that in the last 11 years, almost $750 billion of foreign direct investment has come to the country. The government is promoting new sectors. With the aim of becoming self-sufficient in modern manufacturing and future technology, four more semiconductor manufacturing units have been approved in the year 2025. Ten such factories are going to start production soon. India is also taking big steps for nano chip manufacturing.
President Droupadi Murmu said that apart from chips, the government has also started working in mission mode on critical minerals. Through the National Critical Minerals Mission, dependence on foreign countries for essential minerals is being reduced.
Regarding the government's efforts to promote shipbuilding in the country, she said that in the past, India used to be a major maritime power, but due to decades of neglect after slavery, today 95 percent of the country's trade is done through foreign ships, on which more than six lakh crores are spent every year. She said that the current government has announced a historic package of around 70 thousand crores for the shipbuilding sector to get the country out of this situation. Large ships have been given the status of infrastructure, and old laws related to shipping have also been changed according to current needs.
Referring to the schemes launched by the government to promote self-employment, President Murmu said that under the Mudra Yojana, more than 38 lakh crore rupees have been given to small businesses so far. More than 12 crores of loans have been given to start self-employment for the first time.
Similarly, under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, training and banking facilities are being provided to more than 20 lakh artisans in the country. Under the PM Svanidhi Yojana, 72 lakh street vendors have been helped with an amount of 16 thousand crores.
She said that due to the Startup India program, in the last 10 years, India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. A decade ago, there were less than 500 startups in the country. Today, almost two lakh startups are registered. Just in the last year, around 50 thousand new startups have been registered. She said that more than 20 lakh youth are working in the startup network. At least one woman director is included in 45 percent of these startups.
President Droupadi Murmu said that the government is working with full sensitivity for all, including Dalits, backward, deprived classes, and tribal society, and today almost 95 crore Indians have got the cover of social security.
Ms. Murmu said while addressing the joint session of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session on Wednesday, "The government is working with complete sensitivity for all, including Dalits, backward, deprived classes, and tribal society. The vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is having a positive impact on the life of every citizen of the country. At the beginning of 2014, social security schemes were limited to only 25 crore citizens, but due to the government's continuous efforts, today almost 95 crore Indians are getting the benefit of social security."
She said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme started for poor patients, more than 11 crore people have been treated for free in various hospitals across the country till the last year. Under this scheme, free treatment was provided to 2.5 crore poor people just in the last year. In the last about one and a half years, Vayndana cards have been issued to about one crore elderly citizens, with the help of which about eight lakh elderly people have got free treatment while being admitted to the hospital.
The President said that due to the establishment of one lakh 80 thousand Ayushman Arogya Kendras in the country, patients are getting treatment facilities near their homes. The government has waged a decisive battle against major diseases. Under the mission to eradicate Sickle Cell Anemia, screening of more than six and a half crore citizens has been done, which has helped in controlling the disease in many tribal areas.
She said that due to the measures taken in mission mode, diseases like Japanese Encephalitis have been effectively controlled. Effective control of this disease has been ensured in many backward and rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.
President Droupadi Murmu said that the government is also committed to providing insurance protection to every citizen. The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana have a significant role in this. Through these schemes, insurance coverage has been provided to crores of needy citizens, and claims of more than 24 thousand crores have also been paid. These schemes have become a support for crores of poor people in times of crisis.
President Droupadi Murmu said that in the government's third term, the campaign to empower the poor has gained more momentum, and under this, 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty in the last one decade.
Addressing the joint session of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session on Wednesday, Ms. Murmu said, "Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar always emphasized equality and social justice. Our Constitution also inspires us to do the same. Real social justice means that every citizen of the country gets their full rights without any discrimination. My government is committed to real social justice, and as a result, in the last one decade, 25 crore people of the country have overcome poverty."
She said that in the last decade, four crore pucca houses have been built for the poor, while in the last one year, 32 lakh new houses have been provided to poor families. In five years of the Jal Jeevan Mission, piped drinking water has been provided to more than 12 crore new families. In the last one year, about one crore new families have been provided with tap water facilities. Under the Ujjwala Yojana, more than 10 crore families have been provided with LPG connections so far, and this campaign has also gained momentum in the last year.
She said that the government is giving a permanent shape to a transparent and honest system. In just one year, the government has transferred more than seven and a half lakh benefits directly to the beneficiaries through DBT.