Manmohan Singh, Architect of India’s Economic Reforms, Dies at 92

New Delhi: Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister, died at 92 at Delhi AIIMS after a prolonged illness. He was admitted to the hospital in critical condition earlier today after his health deteriorated. The former Prime Minister was brought to the emergency department of the hospital, official said. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her mother Sonia Gandhi reached the hospital as soon as the news of his hospitalisation became known.

According to AIIMS bulletin, Manmohan Singh was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM.

“With profound grief, we inform the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024, Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM,” said Dr Rima Dada, Professor In-Charge Media Cell, Delhi AIIMS.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now part of Pakistan), Dr Manmohan Singh's early years were defined by remarkable academic achievements. Despite humble beginnings, he consistently excelled in his studies, ultimately earning a doctorate in economics from Oxford University.

In 1991, as India's Finance Minister, Singh was instrumental in steering the country through a severe economic crisis. He spearheaded transformative economic reforms that shifted India from a closed economy to a more open, market-driven system, laying the groundwork for the nation's future economic expansion.

PM Modi remembers Manmohan Singh 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolence on the death of former PM Manmohan Singh saying, “Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist.”

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”

“Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat . We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible,” PM Modi tweeted.

“In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said.

Manmohan Singh's first tenure as PM in 2004 

Manmohan Singh's name as Prime Minister-desginate in 2004 came as a surprise when many were speculating that Sonia Gandhi , the Congress patriarch, would take the top job when UPA defeated NDA in 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

Manmohan Singh was India's only Sikh Prime Minister 

Manmohan Singh was India’s only Sikh Prime Minister who served two consecutive terms.

He became a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha for the first time in 1991, four months after when he was appointed as the Union Finance Minister under the leadership of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.

Manmohan Singh remained the member of the Rajya Sabha five times representing Assam . He also became Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan in 2019.

Govt declares 7-day national mourning 

Government sources said a seven-day national mourning will be observed and that Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours.

When Manmohan Singh saved India from economic default in 1991?  

Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist who was the finance minister under the then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India's economic trajectory.

Singh's appointment as the finance minister was a turning point in the economic history of independent India which witnessed bold economic reforms, abolition of licence raj and opening of many sectors to private players and foreign players so that capital could flow in.

Manmohan Singh was a former RBI Governor 

A former RBI governor, he is credited with allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), rupee devaluation, moderation in taxes, and privatisation of public sector companies.

Singh died as the Congress party concluded its Congress Working Committee(CWC) meeting at Belagavi in Karnataka, where all top party leaders were present.

Remembering India-US historic nuclear agreement  

The Indo-US nuclear agreement clinched in 2008 during Singh's first term was a landmark that enhanced India's global status. Singh stood firm on the nuclear deal which will remain a crowning glory of his prime ministership. The Left Front withdrew support to his government over the deal but the prime minister won the vote of confidence after the Samajwadi Party(SP) gave its backing.

Manmohan Singh, a man of few words 

A soft spoken leader, a gentleman politician and a man of few words, Singh battled allegations of corruption against his government including the coal scam and the 2G telecom scam which eroded the UPA government's hold over power and gave an opportunity for the BJP 's rise and march to victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Singh is the only PM who held prime minister's office without winning a popular vote. He ended his 33-year-long parliamentary innings in the Rajya Sabha on April 3.

With inputs from PTI