China warns against Pelosi visit to Taiwan
A high court judgment that invites more land invasions
First ‘tribesperson’ elected as Indian president
Droupadi Murmu has been elected as India’s 15th President.
She is the second woman to be elected to the post and the second person from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be elected.
What makes her accession unique is that she will be the first president from one of India’s so-called ‘Scheduled Tribes’. These are recognised groupings which, along with Dalits (or ‘Untouchables’) are recognised as making up India’s poorest and most-disadvantaged group.
India’s President is the country’s head of state but the position is primarily a ceremonial one, with executive authority vesting in the country’s Prime Minister, currently the BJP’s Narendra Modi.
Before entering politics, Murmu worked as a teacher and as a civil servant.
She entered politics in the late 1990s, being elected to various positions at local and state government level, before becoming the Chief Minister (effectively the Premier or Governor) of the state of Jharkhand in 2015, a position she held until 2021.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
