New Delhi, Jan. 28 -- President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday set the tone for the budget session of Parliament by stressing reforms, economic resilience and India's positioning in a rapidly changing global trade and geopolitical landscape. In doing so, she effectively presented the government's report card ahead of the Economic Survey.

Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, President Murmu highlighted India's push on new-age technology, manufacturing and employment generation, pointing to recent free trade agreements, including the India-EU FTA, as key instruments to integrate India more deeply into global value chains and support domestic manufacturing amid rising protectionism worldwide. She said such agreements would give a fresh ...