By IANS
New Delhi : Pratibha Devisingh Patil was sworn in as India's 12th president Wednesday in an impressive ceremony in the Central Hall of parliament.
Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 72-year-old Patil, who is the first woman president of the country.
Patil took the oath in English. Outgoing president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Patil exchanged seats as the ceremonial 21-gun salute resonated outside.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior cabinet ministers, state governors and MPs attended the function.
Patil was escorted to the Central Hall by Kalam and Chatterjee in ceremonial procession.
Earlier, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta read out the communication from the Election Commission about the election of the new president. Patil won the July 19 election by a majority of more than 300,000 votes against her rival, former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, a candidate of the opposition National Democratic Alliance.
Shekawat too attended the ceremony.