New Delhi: Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, has passed away at the age of 92, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi confirmed on Thursday. The hospital’s statement revealed that Dr. Singh, who had been battling age-related health complications, experienced a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence on December 26, 2024. Despite efforts to revive him, he succumbed to his condition.
Dr. Singh, an esteemed economist and political leader, is widely remembered for his transformative impact on India’s economic landscape. Serving as the Finance Minister in the government of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991, he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s economic future. Faced with a severe balance of payments crisis and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Dr. Singh introduced a series of bold reforms that marked a definitive shift from India’s decades-old socialist model.
Among his most notable reforms were the dismantling of the “License Raj,” a complex system of government controls over the economy, the reduction of import tariffs, and the devaluation of the rupee. His policies opened the doors to foreign investment and initiated the privatization of state-owned enterprises, which contributed to India’s rapid economic growth in the following decades.
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Dr. Singh’s balanced approach to governance, combining market-oriented reforms with a focus on social welfare, set the tone for his tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. Under his leadership, India saw significant strides in various sectors, even as he navigated complex coalition politics in a diverse and dynamic country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, remembering Dr. Singh’s humble beginnings and his rise to prominence as a respected economist. Modi described Dr. Singh as a man who “left a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years,” highlighting his contributions to the nation’s economic resilience and growth.
Born in what is now Pakistan, Dr. Singh’s journey to becoming one of India’s most influential politicians was marked by his academic excellence and dedication to public service. Before his tenure as Prime Minister, he had already made significant contributions to India’s financial institutions, serving as the Chief Economic Advisor and later at the Reserve Bank of India.
Dr. Singh’s leadership style, characterized by his soft-spoken demeanor and technocratic approach, earned him the respect of leaders both in India and abroad. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters.