India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of the country’s economic reforms, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday. He was 92. 

 

Dr Singh, the 14th Prime Minister of India, was earlier in the day admitted to the emergency department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he breathed his last.

 

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah village, West Punjab (now in Pakistan), Dr Singh’s life was a testament to service, scholarship, and leadership. He earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and later obtained a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

 

Dr Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, leading the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Earlier, as the Finance Minister in 1991, he initiated transformative economic reforms. These reforms not only liberalised the Indian economy but also paved the way for its global integration, commented Indian Express newspaper.

 

Before his political career, Singh had an illustrious journey in government service. Starting as the Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade in 1971, he quickly rose through the ranks. By 1976, he was Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance. Over the years, he held several key roles, including Director of the Reserve Bank of India, Alternate Governor for India at the Asian Development Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Member (Finance) at the Atomic Energy and Space Commissions.

 

His contributions extended beyond economics. As Prime Minister, he prioritised inclusive growth, social welfare, and diplomacy, steering India through global economic challenges and strengthening its position on the world stage.