Former PM Manmohan Singh passes way: A look at his political career and more

Former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh, 92, passed away at AIIMS, Delhi. He was battling with age-related illnesses. Earlier in the day, Singh was admitted to the emergency ward of AIIMS, after his condition had started deteriorating. 

"With profound grief, we inform the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM", the hospital said in an official statement. 

Several leaders from across the partylines have reached AIIMS to pay their tribute to the former PM. 

As the world is mourning his demise, let's take a look at his political career. 

Dr Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in the Punjab province of Pakistan before the partition of India. At the age of 14, Singh and his family migrated to India. 

Regarded as one of the most educated politicians in India, Singh studied at the Panjab University, University of Cambridge and earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford.

From 1982 to 1985, he served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Singh also served as the Chief Economic Advisor from 1972 to 1976. He was the chief of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987.

Moreover, Singh was awarded the Padma Vibhushan - the country's second highest civilian award in 1987. During Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao's regime, Singh served as the finance minister of India from 1991 to 1996. 

Interestingly, this was the era when major economic reforms - Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG), were introduced in India. Manmohan Singh is known to have played a significant role in the introduction of economic reforms.