Droupadi Murmu

Droupadi Murmu was born in Uparbeda village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district into a Santhali family. After primary school in her village, she continued her education in Bhubaneswar and graduated from Ramadevi Women’s College. Before holding elected office, she worked as a junior assistant in Odisha’s Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983 and as an honorary teacher in Rairangpur from 1994 to 1997.

Murmu represented Rairangpur in the Odisha Legislative Assembly for two terms between 2000 and 2009. She held independent charge of the state’s Commerce and Transport Department from March 2000 to August 2002, followed by Fisheries and Animal Resources Development until May 2004. Her legislative work also included membership and chairing of Assembly committees. The Assembly recognised her with its Pandit Nilkanth Das Best Legislator Award in 2007.

After serving as Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021, Murmu contested the 2022 presidential election. Voting took place on 18 July in Parliament and the state capitals, and the returning officer declared her elected on 21 July. She took the presidential oath on 25 July 2022, succeeding to India’s highest constitutional office. She became the first person from a tribal community to serve as President.

Murmu’s presidency has included state visits and meetings with Indian communities abroad. During her August 2024 visit to Fiji, she met the President and Prime Minister, addressed Parliament and discussed development cooperation and climate resilience. Fiji conferred its highest civilian award, the Companion of the Order of Fiji, on her. The visit also included engagement with the Indian diaspora and a visit to the National War Memorial in Suva.