Covid, Gen Bipin Rawat, Olympics: President's R-Day eve speech highlights

In his address to the nation on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind hailed India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic as extraordinary. He said that while a pandemic situation is more difficult for a developing country to handle, India had shown its mettle by rising to the challenge.

He, however, warned that people must continue to observe Covid-appropriate precautions as a 'sacred national duty' in view of the new challenges posed by new variants.

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The President also credited the government for timely interventions during the pandemic due to which the Indian economy is projected to grow 'impressively' in the current financial year after contraction in the last fiscal year. He hailed the Narendra Modi administration's 'aatmanirbhar Bharat' programme for the economic turnaround.

President Kovind also cited the imminent induction of IAC Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier, into the Indian Navy to highlight growing self-reliance in the defence sector. He also said that it's a year of women empowerment in the Indian armed forces.

The commander-in-chief also remembered late General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, who died in a helicopter crash in December 2021.