The Presidential Address to the joint session of Parliament marks the beginning of the Budget Session, serving as a platform for the government to highlight its achievements and outline future policies and legislative priorities. On January 31, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu delivered her address, emphasizing India’s economic resilience, advancements in space exploration, and sporting achievements. While the speech celebrated various accomplishments and reiterated the government’s commitment to institutional reforms, it lacked major policy announcements and left key political and social concerns unaddressed. Most notably, there was no mention of the long-discussed restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, while the address highlighted several welfare schemes, it ignored the plight of nearly 80 lakh Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) retirees, many of whom receive a meager pension of just ₹1,000 per month under EPS-95—or none at all. The speech focused on broad national goals, leaving it uncertain how different regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, will be accommodated when the Finance Minister presents the detailed budget.
India’s Economic Resilience And Global Positioning: President Murmu opened her speech by emphasizing India’s economic strength, asserting that despite global challenges, the country has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy with a sustained GDP growth rate of over 7.5% for two consecutive quarters. “In recent years, the world has faced significant economic turbulence, yet India has not only withstood these challenges but has emerged stronger. The sustained GDP growth of over 7.5% for two consecutive quarters is a testament to our economic resilience.” While this aligns with the government’s narrative of positioning India as a global economic powerhouse, the address lacked specifics on how this growth would translate into tangible benefits, such as job creation, inflation control, and wage growth.
Advancements In Space Exploration; A Historic Milestone: Another key highlight was India’s success in space exploration. President Murmu proudly noted that India became the first nation to hoist its flag on the southern pole of the Moon through the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also mentioned the Aditya Mission, India’s first space-based solar observatory, which has now traveled 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. “Our scientific community has made the nation proud by achieving what no other country has done before. India’s flag now stands on the southern pole of the Moon, and our Aditya Mission has reached deep into space, expanding our understanding of the universe.” While these achievements are commendable, the speech did not discuss how India plans to leverage its space program for commercial use, technological innovation, or education, leaving questions about its long-term impact.
India’s Sporting Glory On The Global Stage: President Murmu celebrated India’s record-breaking performances at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games, where the nation secured over 100 medals in both events for the first time. “Our athletes have once again demonstrated their exceptional talent and dedication. Winning over 100 medals in both the Asian Games and Para Asian Games is a proud moment for the nation.” While this highlights the government’s investment in sports infrastructure and training, the address lacked details on future plans to nurture talent, improve facilities, or increase funding—especially at the grassroots level.
Key Issues Left Unaddressed; No Mention of Statehood Restoration for J&K: One of the most glaring omissions was the absence of any reference to the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, political leadership and national opposition parties have repeatedly demanded its restoration. Over the years, government officials have suggested that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time, but its exclusion from the Presidential address suggests it is no longer a priority. “The absence of any reference to Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in the President’s address suggests that it is not on the legislative agenda. This will likely deepen concerns among political parties and the people of the region,” said a political analyst.
“The omission of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood leaves an important political question unanswered. Similarly, the failure to acknowledge the struggles of PSU retirees—many of whom receive a pension as low as ₹1,000 per month—reflects a gap in the government’s welfare agenda. Furthermore, while the address provided a broad national outlook, specific regional benefits remain unclear until the detailed budget is presented. As the Budget Session unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the government will address these concerns through policy measures and financial allocations. For now, while the address celebrated past achievements, it left several crucial issues unresolved, reinforcing the need for further clarity in the days ahead.”
Neglect Of PSU Retirees’ Pensions Under EPS-95: While the address highlighted welfare schemes, it completely ignored the struggles of nearly 80 lakh retired PSU employees, many of whom receive a meager pension of just ₹1,000 per month under EPS-95—or none at all. Despite their significant contributions to India’s industrial and economic growth, these retirees remain largely ignored in policy discussions. The lack of mention of pension reforms raises concerns about the government’s commitment to senior citizens’ financial security.
No Concrete Policy On Unemployment, Corruption: Two of the most pressing issues—unemployment and corruption—were conspicuously absent from the speech. With millions of young people struggling to find jobs and widespread concerns over governance corruption, many expected concrete measures to address these problems. However, the speech did not mention any job creation policy, skill development initiatives, or measures to combat corruption at various administrative levels. Despite the government’s emphasis on economic growth, employment generation has lagged behind. The failure to address these concerns raises serious doubts about whether the government is truly committed to tackling them.
Legislative Focus; Institutional Reforms; Key Bills: While the address lacked major policy announcements, President Murmu outlined the government’s legislative priorities, including the Waqf Amendment Bill and the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal.
Waqf Amendment Bill: The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to reform the management and regulation of waqf properties, which are religious endowments used for charitable and religious purposes in Islam. The proposed amendments seek to enhance transparency and governance but may be viewed as interference in Muslim religious affairs.
One Nation, One Election: The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal seeks to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, reducing election frequency. While proponents argue that it minimizes governance disruptions and cuts costs, critics worry about its impact on federalism and democratic representation. President Murmu Defended These Proposals, Stating “A stable electoral system and effective governance mechanisms are crucial for the country’s progress. The proposed reforms will streamline governance and bring greater efficiency.” However, the feasibility and long-term consequences of this initiative remain subjects of intense debate.
Conclusion; Achievements Celebrated, Key Questions Remain: President Murmu’s address highlighted India’s economic, scientific, and sporting accomplishments while underscoring the government’s focus on institutional reforms. However, it avoided major policy announcements and failed to address pressing political and social concerns. The omission of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood leaves an important political question unanswered. Similarly, the failure to acknowledge the struggles of PSU retirees—many of whom receive a pension as low as ₹1,000 per month—reflects a gap in the government’s welfare agenda. Furthermore, while the address provided a broad national outlook, specific regional benefits remain unclear until the detailed budget is presented. As the Budget Session unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the government will address these concerns through policy measures and financial allocations. For now, while the address celebrated past achievements, it left several crucial issues unresolved, reinforcing the need for further clarity in the days ahead.
(The author is a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Ahmad Ayaz
