President Pranab Mukherjee addressed a joint session of Parliament ahead of the budget session which began on Tuesday. 

Read the full text of President Pranab Mukherjee's speech HERE

Scroll down to read the highlights of his speech: 

• This is a historic session heralding advancement of budget cycle and merger of general budget with rail budget for the first time

• Resilience demonstrated by our countrymen particularly the poor, in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable

• At the core of all my government policies, is the welfare of 'gareeb', 'peedit', 'Dalit', 'vanchhit'

• Government committed to growth, 'sabka saath sabka vikaas'. Voluntary giving up of LPG subsidy has helped the poor

• An unprecedented 26 crore plus Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for the unbanked

• Close to 13 crore poor have been covered under various social security schemes

• To take the banking system to the doorstep of the poor and the unbanked, the Indian Postal Payment Bank has been started

• Over Rs 2 lakh crore has been provided through 5.6 crore loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana

• Under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, over Rs 16000 crore have been made available to SHGs in the current Financial Year

• My government has taken many initiatives to improve the quality of life of the poor

• My government is committed to provide shelter to every houseless poor household through the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana 

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to ensure health and sanitation, particularly for the poor

• The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will make clean energy accessible to the poor

• 37 percent of the Ujjwala beneficiaries belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe

• Under Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gram Jyoti Yojana over 11,000 villages have been electrified in a record time

• Mission Indradhanush commits to vaccinate “every child everywhere” against preventable diseases
  
  
•  My government has taken various steps to transform the lives of our farmers
  
  
• Soaring prices of pulses was matter of great concern around this time last year, my govt took proactive steps, it's now under control

• My government is making 'naari shakti' an integral part of our development journey, they deserve equal opportunities

• PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa illustrate strength of our women

• Social and economic equality for deprived sections is the first promise of our Constitution. Our government is committed to fulfil it

• The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is yielding encouraging results

• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan will provide comprehensive ante-natal care to all pregnant women

• The revision of Maternity Benefit Act will support pregnant women at the workplace

• With motto of “Har Haath ko Hunar”, my government has taken several steps for skilling youth & improving their employability

• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme has been launched with a budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana launched for promoting entrepreneurship education and training amongst 7 lakh students

• By year end, all the meter gauge tracks in the north east will be converted into broad gauge lines

• To combat black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terror financing, the government took decision on Nov 8, 2016 of demonetisation

• Four decade old demand of OROP has been fulfilled

• Our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strike to prevent infiltration by terrorists

• My government welcomes constructive debate on simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies

• My government is thankful to the GST council for working to resolve the outstanding issues

• My government is committed to combat terrorism, and ensure that perpetrators of these acts are brought to justice

• India ratified Paris agreement, thereby sending a strong message of our commitment to combating climate change

• My government reiterates committment to fulfil aspirations of its people