President Murmu unveiled bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari Ji, the first and only Indian Governor General of independent India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, situated at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap, replaces the bust of Edwin Lutyens. This initiative is part of series of steps being taken towards shedding the vestiges colonial mindset and embracing, with pride, the richness of India’s culture, heritage, timeless traditions and honouring those who served Bharat Mata with their extraordinary contributions.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare; and Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan and family members of Rajaji.(UPDATED ON 23RD FEBRUARY 2026)