Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh
Born	26 9, 1932
Birthplace	Gah, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Pakistan)
Died	Template:Death date and age New Delhi, Delhi, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Economist, politician, bureaucrat, academician
Known for	Prime Minister of India (2004–2014), economic liberalisation of India (1991)
Education	DPhil, University of Oxford
Children	3
Awards	Padma Vibhushan (1987)

Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an Indian economist, bureaucrat, academician, and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. A member of the Indian National Congress, Singh was the first Sikh to hold the office of prime minister and was the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-appointed after completing a full five-year term. Born in Gah in undivided British India — a village that became part of Pakistan following the Partition of India in 1947 — Singh rose from modest origins to occupy some of the most consequential positions in Indian governance and economic policymaking. As Finance Minister under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao from 1991 to 1996, he spearheaded the economic reforms that liberalised India's economy, dismantling decades of regulatory controls and opening the country to global trade and investment. He served as the fourth longest-serving prime minister of India, after Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi, and represented the state of Assam and later Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha from 1991 until 2024.

Early Life

Manmohan Singh was born on 26 September 1932 in Gah, a village in the Punjab Province of British India, in what is today the Chakwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. His family belonged to the Sikh community. Singh's early childhood was spent in Gah, where educational opportunities were limited. He was raised by his paternal grandmother following his mother's death during his childhood.

The Partition of India in 1947 upended Singh's family life, as it did for millions of others across the subcontinent. His family migrated from what had become Pakistan to India, settling in Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab. The trauma and upheaval of partition left a lasting impression on Singh, shaping his worldview and his later approach to India-Pakistan relations.

Despite the disruptions caused by partition, Singh proved to be an exceptionally gifted student. He pursued his early education in Punjab, excelling academically and earning recognition for his scholarly aptitude. His academic talents enabled him to gain admission to prestigious institutions, setting the stage for a distinguished career in economics and public policy.

Education

Singh completed his undergraduate studies at Panjab University in Chandigarh, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics, followed by a master's degree in the same subject. His academic performance at Panjab University was distinguished, and he subsequently traveled to the United Kingdom to pursue higher studies.

At the University of Cambridge, Singh studied at St John's College, further deepening his understanding of economics. He then enrolled at the University of Oxford, where he earned his DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy) in economics. His doctoral thesis examined India's export performance and the policies that could improve it, a subject that would later inform his approach to economic reform. Singh's education at two of the world's foremost universities provided him with a rigorous foundation in economic theory and policy, which he applied extensively throughout his career in government.

Career

Early Bureaucratic and Academic Career

After completing his doctoral studies, Singh embarked on a career that combined academia and public service. He worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969, gaining international experience in economic policy and development. Upon returning to India, he entered government service when Lalit Narayan Mishra hired him as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key positions within the Government of India. He served as Chief Economic Advisor to the government from 1972 to 1976, a period marked by significant economic challenges, including the oil crisis and rising inflation. In this role, Singh provided critical policy advice on India's economic direction.

Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

Singh was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16 September 1982, serving until 14 January 1985. As the central bank governor, he oversaw monetary policy during a period of significant economic transition in India. His tenure at the RBI was marked by efforts to manage India's balance of payments challenges and to bring greater stability to the banking sector. The experience gave Singh an intimate understanding of India's financial system and the structural issues that constrained economic growth.

Head of the Planning Commission

Following his tenure at the RBI, Singh served as head of the Planning Commission of India (the predecessor of NITI Aayog) from 1985 to 1987. The Planning Commission played a central role in India's economic governance, overseeing the formulation and implementation of five-year plans that directed the country's development strategy. Singh's leadership of the body reflected his growing stature as one of India's foremost economic policymakers.

Finance Minister (1991–1996)

Singh's most consequential pre-prime ministerial role came in 1991, when Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao appointed him as Finance Minister. India was then facing a severe balance of payments crisis, with foreign exchange reserves dwindling to levels that could barely cover two weeks of imports. The country was on the brink of defaulting on its international obligations.

Singh, who had never held elected office at that point, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1991 to enable him to take up the finance portfolio. In his first budget, presented on 24 July 1991, Singh announced a sweeping programme of economic reforms. Quoting Victor Hugo, he declared that "no power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come," signalling his intent to fundamentally restructure the Indian economy.

The reforms Singh implemented were far-reaching. They included the devaluation of the Indian rupee, the dismantling of the Licence Raj — the elaborate system of permits and regulations that had governed Indian industry for decades — the reduction of import tariffs, and the opening of several sectors to foreign direct investment. Singh also initiated the liberalisation of the financial sector and began the process of reducing the government's role in commercial enterprises.

These structural reforms, carried out despite strong opposition from within the Congress party and from leftist political formations, transformed the Indian economy. They set India on a path of higher growth, greater integration with the global economy, and the emergence of a dynamic private sector. The reforms earned Singh recognition internationally as one of the most significant economic reformers in the developing world.

Singh served as Finance Minister for the entirety of the Rao government's term, from 21 June 1991 to 16 May 1996.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha (1998–2004)

Following the Congress party's defeat in the 1996 and 1998 general elections, Singh took on the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, serving from 21 March 1998 to 21 May 2004. In this capacity, he provided parliamentary oversight and led the Congress party's engagement with the ruling National Democratic Alliance on legislative matters. The role positioned Singh as one of the most senior leaders within the Congress party and reinforced his reputation as a sober, policy-oriented parliamentarian.

Prime Minister of India: First Term (2004–2009)

In the 2004 Indian general election, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) unexpectedly defeated the ruling NDA coalition. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who had led the Congress campaign, surprised many observers by declining to become prime minister herself. She instead nominated Singh for the position, making him the first Sikh and the first non-Hindu to hold the office of prime minister.

Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 May 2004. His government was a coalition that depended on the support of several parties, including the Left Front, which provided crucial outside support without joining the cabinet.

Singh's first term saw the enactment of several significant legislative measures and policy initiatives. Among the most notable were:

• The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (later renamed MGNREGA), which guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households, making it one of the largest employment guarantee programmes in the world.
• The Right to Information Act, enacted in 2005, which empowered Indian citizens to request information from public authorities, serving as a tool to improve transparency and accountability in governance.
• The National Rural Health Mission, aimed at improving healthcare delivery in rural areas.
• The establishment of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which laid the groundwork for the Aadhaar identity programme.

India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement

One of the defining initiatives of Singh's first term was the India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement, a landmark deal that allowed India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel from the United States and other countries, despite India not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The agreement, negotiated beginning in 2005, was controversial both domestically and internationally.

The Left Front parties, which had been providing outside support to the UPA government, opposed the nuclear deal on the grounds that it would bring India too close to the United States strategically. In July 2008, the Left Front withdrew its support from the government, precipitating a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha. Singh's government survived the trust vote, securing the support of the Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties. The nuclear deal was subsequently concluded, marking a significant shift in India's international relations and energy policy.

Foreign Policy

Singh's first term was marked by active engagement in multilateral forums and bilateral relationships. India participated in the first India-Africa Forum Summit in April 2008, which brought together leaders from across the African continent and sought to strengthen economic and developmental ties between India and African nations.

Singh also deepened India's engagement with China. He met with Chinese leaders on multiple occasions, working to manage the complex bilateral relationship that encompassed border disputes, growing trade ties, and shared interests in multilateral forums.

India's relationship with Afghanistan also received attention during Singh's tenure, with India providing significant development assistance to the country.

Prime Minister of India: Second Term (2009–2014)

The 2009 Indian general election saw the UPA return to power with an increased mandate. The Congress party won 206 seats, a significant improvement over its 2004 performance, and the UPA coalition secured a comfortable majority. Singh was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister on 22 May 2009.

In 2009, the BRICS grouping was established with India as one of the founding members, alongside Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. The formation of BRICS reflected India's growing stature in global economic governance and its desire to have a greater voice in international institutions.

Singh's second term, however, was marked by a series of political scandals that damaged the government's credibility. Allegations of corruption in the allocation of 2G telecommunications spectrum, the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the allocation of coal blocks generated significant public outcry and media scrutiny. These controversies, combined with high inflation and slowing economic growth, eroded public support for the UPA government.

Singh faced criticism for his perceived inability to act decisively against corruption within his own government. His defenders argued that the coalition nature of his government constrained his ability to act unilaterally, while critics contended that his silence on major scandals undermined the reformist image he had cultivated over decades.

Singh opted not to contest the 2014 Indian general election as the Congress party's prime ministerial candidate. The election resulted in a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi, and Singh stepped down as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014.

Post-Prime Ministerial Career

After leaving office, Singh continued to serve as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He represented Assam in the upper house from 1991 to 2019, and subsequently represented Rajasthan from August 2019 to April 2024. During this period, he remained an elder statesman within the Congress party, occasionally making public statements on economic policy and national affairs.

Personal Life

Manmohan Singh was married to Gursharan Kaur. The couple had three daughters, including Upinder Singh, a historian and professor at Ashoka University, and Daman Singh, an author. Singh was known for his austere personal lifestyle, and his public image was characterised by his trademark light blue turban.

Singh died on 26 December 2024, in New Delhi, at the age of 92.

Recognition

Singh received numerous awards and honours over the course of his career. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in 1987, in recognition of his contributions to public service and economic policy.

Time magazine included Singh in its profiles of influential global leaders, describing the significance of his role in India's economic transformation. His role as the architect of India's 1991 economic liberalisation has been the subject of extensive academic study and public discourse. The reforms he implemented as Finance Minister are credited with transforming India from a relatively closed, slow-growing economy into one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.

Singh's tenure as Prime Minister also drew international attention. The negotiation and conclusion of the India-United States civil nuclear agreement was considered a diplomatic achievement that reshaped India's position in the global nuclear order.

Legacy

Manmohan Singh's legacy is primarily defined by two distinct phases of his public life: his role as the architect of India's 1991 economic liberalisation and his decade-long tenure as Prime Minister.

As Finance Minister, Singh oversaw reforms that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Indian economy. The dismantling of the Licence Raj, the reduction of trade barriers, and the opening of India to foreign investment laid the foundations for the economic growth that followed in subsequent decades. India's GDP growth rate, which had hovered around 3–4 percent for much of the post-independence era — a rate sometimes referred to as the "Hindu rate of growth" — accelerated significantly in the years following the 1991 reforms. These changes also facilitated the rise of India's information technology sector and its emergence as a major player in the global services economy.

As Prime Minister, Singh's legacy is more contested. His first term is generally assessed more favourably, with landmark social welfare legislation such as the Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act being cited as significant achievements. The successful conclusion of the civil nuclear agreement with the United States is also viewed as a major diplomatic accomplishment. His second term, however, was overshadowed by corruption scandals and a perception of policy paralysis.

Singh remains a historically significant figure as the first and only Sikh to serve as Prime Minister of India. His career trajectory — from a partition-displaced child to the holder of India's highest executive office — has been noted as emblematic of the possibilities within India's democratic system. His approach to governance, characterised by technocratic expertise rather than populist rhetoric, represented a distinctive model of political leadership in Indian democracy.