Manmohan Singh, architect of India’s economic liberalisation, passes away at 92

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a veteran economist and statesman, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 92. Admitted to AIIMS after a sudden health deterioration, Dr. Singh succumbed to age-related medical conditions despite extensive medical efforts. AIIMS confirmed his passing at 9:51 PM, describing his demise as a result of sudden unconsciousness at his residence earlier in the evening.

Dr. Singh’s career spanned decades of remarkable contributions to India’s political and economic landscape. As Finance Minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government, he was the architect of India’s economic liberalization in 1991, which opened the country to global markets and set the stage for rapid growth. His tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 under the Congress-led UPA coalition marked a period of historic economic achievements and transformative social reforms like MGNREGA and the Right to Information Act.

However, his leadership was not without controversy. Scandals, including the 2G spectrum case and coal block allocation issues, marred his time in office. Despite these challenges, his accomplishments—such as the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement—cemented his place in India’s history as a leader of vision and perseverance.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, now in Pakistan, Dr. Singh’s academic brilliance led him to Panjab University, Cambridge, and Oxford, where he earned advanced degrees in Economics. Before entering politics, he served as Chief Economic Advisor, RBI Governor, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Known as a man of few words but profound actions, Dr. Singh’s passing marks the end of an era in Indian politics and economics. Tributes poured in from across the nation, mourning the loss of a leader whose contributions shaped modern India.