Dr. Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an eminent Indian politician, economist, academic, and bureaucrat who served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He ranks as the fourth longest-serving prime minister in India’s history, after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. A prominent member of the Indian National Congress, Singh made history as the first Sikh to hold the office of Prime Minister of India. He was also the first prime minister since Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. Born in Gah, which is now in Pakistan, Singh and his family migrated to India during the 1947 Partition. He pursued his higher education in economics at the University of Oxford, where he earned a doctorate. Singh’s academic background laid the foundation for his future career as an economist.

13th Prime Minister of India In office 22 May 2004 – 26 May 2014

Born :  26 September 1932

Place:  Gah, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)

Died: 26 December 2024 (aged 92) New Delhi, India

Political party : Indian National Congress

Spouse Gursharan Kaur ​ (m. 1958)​ Children 3, including Upinder and Daman Alma mater Panjab University (BA, MA) St John's College, Cambridge (BA) Nuffield College, Oxford (DPhil) Profession Economist, academician Bureaucrate, Politician Awards List of awards and honours

Signature of Dr Manmohan Singh

After completing his studies, Singh worked for the United Nations between 1966 and 1969. He began his long bureaucratic career when he was appointed as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under Lalit Narayan Mishra. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key positions in the Government of India. He served as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985), and Chairman of the Planning Commission (1985–1987). These roles honed his expertise in economic policy and governance. In 1991, India faced a severe economic crisis characterized by dwindling foreign exchange reserves, high inflation, and external debt. At this critical juncture, newly elected Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao appointed Singh as Finance Minister. Despite facing strong opposition, Singh spearheaded transformative economic reforms that liberalized the Indian economy. These included reducing import tariffs, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and devaluing the rupee to boost exports and attract foreign investment. These bold measures stabilized India’s economy and laid the foundation for its subsequent growth. Singh’s role in these reforms solidified his reputation as a visionary economist on the global stage.

Although the Congress Party performed poorly in the 1996 general election, Singh continued to be a prominent figure in Indian politics. He became the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Parliament) during the tenure of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government (1998–2004). During this time, he worked on shaping the opposition's stance on key national issues. In 2004, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power after the general election. In an unexpected move, Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi declined the prime ministership, and Singh was appointed Prime Minister. His first term as Prime Minister was marked by significant social and economic initiatives, including the launch of the National Rural Health Mission, the Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI), the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and the Right to Information Act. These programs aimed at improving healthcare, promoting rural employment, and enhancing transparency in governance.

Challenges and Key Achievements

The Oxford-trained economist was known for his mild, self-effacing manner and personal integrity © Harish Tyagi/EPA

Singh’s tenure saw India’s economy grow rapidly. In 2008, however, his government faced a significant challenge when opposition to a historic civil nuclear agreement with the United States threatened to bring down the government after the Left Front parties withdrew their support. Despite this, Singh managed to navigate the crisis, and the agreement was signed, marking a key moment in India’s foreign policy. In 2009, under Singh’s leadership, India became a founding member of BRICS, an association of emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. The 2009 general election saw the UPA return to power with an increased mandate, allowing Singh to continue as Prime Minister for a second term. Singh’s second term, however, was marred by a series of corruption scandals. These included the 2G spectrum allocation case, the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the allocation of coal blocks. These scandals significantly affected the public perception of his government, despite Singh’s own reputation for personal integrity. After completing his second term, Singh opted not to seek re-election as Prime Minister in the 2014 Indian general election, as the Congress Party faced a major defeat. Despite stepping down from the highest office, Singh remained a respected figure in Indian politics. He served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, representing Assam from 1991 to 2019 and Rajasthan from 2019 until his passing in 2024.

Legacy

Manmohan Singh’s legacy is defined by his role in transforming India’s economy. As a reform-minded economist, he is widely credited with opening up India’s economy in 1991, which laid the groundwork for India’s emergence as a global economic power. His tenure as Prime Minister was also marked by social welfare initiatives and foreign policy successes, although it was also overshadowed by corruption controversies. His leadership in both economic policy and governance left an indelible mark on India’s political and economic landscape

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