Mr. Pranab Mukherjee became the 13th President of India on Wednesday. He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia at an impressive ceremony in the historic Central Hall of Parliament.

In his address, Mr. Mukherjee asserted that for the real development of the country, poorest of the land must feel that they are part of the narrative of rising India and poverty erased from the dictionary of modern India.

Terming terrorism as the fourth world war that the international community is facing, Mr. Mukherjee said that India has been on the frontlines of this war long before many others could recognize its consequences.

The President called corruption an evil that can depress the nation's mood and sap its progress the new President affirmed that the greed of a few cannot be allowed to hijack the progress of the nation.

Mr. Mukherjee said that the country has achieved much in the field of agriculture, industry and social infrastructure, but it is nothing compared to what India, led by the coming generations, will create in the decades ahead.

The veteran leader took the oath in English in the name of God to a thunderous applause and thumping of desks by those in the packed Central Hall that included Vice President Hamid Ansari, Speaker Meira Kumar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and outgoing President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The gathering also included Cabinet Ministers, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leaders of opposition, senior BJP leader L. K. Advani, Governors, Chief Ministers, MPs and diplomats. Just after he took oath, he was offered a 21 gun salute marking the assumption of office of the highest Constitutional post in the country.