It gives me great pleasure to join you today in celebrating India’s polio free status. The official recognition, by the International Certification Commission that India has effectively immunized its population against polio - that there has not been a single case of polio detected in India in the last three years - is a momentous occasion indeed. For a country that was, till only recently, among the worst affected by the virus, this is a landmark achievement.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

1. Today, I am pleased to witness the change-over of Ceremonial Army Guard battalion from 28 MADRAS to 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, in a ceremony which is happening for the first time at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

1. I am happy to join you for this fourteenth convocation of Manipur University, which is a premier centre of higher learning in North-East India.

1. I am happy to be here today on the occasion of the Enforcement Day. To celebrate Foundation Day is significant as it gives an opportunity to pause and reflect where we began, where we are and what is our future action plan.

1. It is indeed a privilege for me to be present amidst you on the occasion of the 61st National Films Awards.

2. The National Film Awards are an annual milestone in the nation’s cinematic history. It not only symbolizes public accolade and mass acceptance but also immense prestige befitting the highest governmental recognition in the field of cinema.

1. It gives me immense pleasure in greeting all on International Nurses’ Day. I extend to you – and through you, to the members of the nursing profession in India, my warm greetings and felicitations.

I am indeed happy to be amidst you this afternoon for the RuPay dedication function.

I am happy to participate in the celebrations to mark completion of 150 years of the life and work of Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, one of the towering figures Indian education has ever seen - a man of great personality, courage and ext

Honourable Members

1. I consider it as a privilege to be a part of this Third Convocation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, which was established in 2006 to augment higher education in science in our country.