Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a veteran Congress leader and the architect of India’s economic liberalisation, passed away in Delhi on Thursday at the age of 92 after a prolonged illness. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the evening of December 26 following a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence, according to a hospital statement. Despite medical efforts, Singh was declared dead at 9:51 pm.

AIIMS confirmed that the former Prime Minister had been undergoing treatment for age-related health conditions. In his memory, the government is expected to announce a seven-day national mourning period after a cabinet meeting on Friday. The Congress party has also canceled all scheduled events for the week as a mark of respect.

Condolences have poured in from across the nation, with leaders remembering Singh’s immense contributions to India. President Droupadi Murmu hailed him as a "rare politician who seamlessly bridged academia and administration." Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his efforts to improve the lives of millions, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described him as a leader with "immense wisdom and integrity." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praised Singh as a "man of action rather than words."

Manmohan Singh had largely stepped away from active politics in recent years due to declining health. His last public appearance was in January 2024 at the launch of his daughter's book. Singh concluded his political career as a Rajya Sabha member, retiring in April 2024.

A Storied Career

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, a village in British India's Punjab province (now in Pakistan), Singh and his family relocated to India during the partition in 1947. Despite the upheaval, he excelled academically, earning a degree in Economics from Panjab University and furthering his studies at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, where he completed a doctorate in 1962.

Singh’s professional career was deeply rooted in academia and public service. He held numerous key positions, including Chief Economic Advisor, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. As Finance Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, Singh steered India through a severe economic crisis in 1991, implementing structural reforms that liberalised the economy, attracted foreign investments, and set the foundation for sustained growth.

Tenure as Prime Minister

Singh served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, leading two consecutive terms under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). His leadership saw significant economic growth, landmark initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Right to Information Act, and the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, which ended India's nuclear isolation. However, his tenure was also shadowed by major corruption scandals, including the 2G spectrum and coal block allocation controversies.

Despite these challenges, Singh’s legacy remains one of transformative economic policies and a leadership style marked by humility and dedication. His contributions as an economist and policymaker are celebrated as pivotal in shaping modern India’s economic trajectory.