Profile of the President

Smt. Droupadi Murmu became the 15th President of India on July 25, 2022. Before that, she served as Governor of Jharkhand (2015–2021). Throughout her career, she has worked to uplift marginalized communities and uphold democratic values.

Early Life and Education

Born on June 20, 1958, in Uparbeda village, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, she belongs to the Santhali tribal community. Despite hardships, she pursued her education and moved to Bhubaneswar for higher studies. She earned a B.A. from Ramadevi Women’s College and became the first woman from her village to graduate.

Professional Career

From 1979 to 1983, she worked as a Junior Assistant in Odisha’s Irrigation and Power Department. Later, from 1994 to 1997, she served as an honorary teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre in Rairangpur.

Public Life

She entered politics in 2000, winning a seat in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur and served until 2009. She held key portfolios, including:

Minister of State (Independent Charge), Commerce and Transport (2000–2002)
Minister of State (Independent Charge), Fisheries and Animal Resources (2002–2004)

She focused on reforms and development during her tenure. In 2007, the Odisha Assembly awarded her the Pandit Nilkanth Das – Best Legislator Award.

Governor of Jharkhand

In 2015, she became the first tribal woman Governor of Jharkhand. She defended tribal rights and promoted reforms in education. Her leadership gained respect across party lines.

Other Interests

She supports various tribal educational and cultural groups in Odisha. She enjoys reading and has a strong interest in spirituality.

Personal Life

She married the late Shyam Charan Murmu in 1981, who worked in banking. She has a daughter, Itishree, and a son-in-law, Ganesh Hembram, a rugby player.

Tours and State Visits

As President, she has traveled widely in India and abroad. In 2022, she visited the UK and later made state visits to Suriname, Serbia, Mauritius, Fiji, New Zealand, Timor-Leste, Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi. She engaged with the Indian diaspora and promoted stronger bilateral ties.

Awards and Honors

She received several honors, including:

Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star (Suriname)
Companion of the Order of Fiji
Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste

She also received honorary doctorates in Civil Law (University of Mauritius) and Political Science (Martyr Ihaddaden Abdelhafid University, Algeria).