Pratibha Patil, who took oath as President on Wednesday, favours a sustained economic growth that is socially inclusive and has called for empowerment of women.

"Our combined endeavour should be to ensure that the rate of economic growth is sustained and it is socially inclusive," she said in her address at the Central Hall of Parliament after she was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan.

She described herself as the Republic's first servant and said her sincere endeavour will be to live up to the high expectations of the people who chose to elect her as President.

Noting that India stood at the threshold of a new era of progress and was moving at 'historically unprecedented' rates of growth, Pratibha said, "It should be our combined endeavour to sustain this growth and ensure that it is socially inclusive."

She said it should be ensured that every section of the society, particularly the weak and the disadvantaged are equal partners as beneficiaries of the development process.

"We must also ensure that every region of the country participates in and benefits from the process of economic growth," Pratibha said.