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Manmohan Singh

About Manmohan Singh

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Who is Manmohan Singh?

Dr Manmohan Singh was an Indian politician, academician, economist, and bureaucrat who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was an Oxford- and Cambridge-educated economist credited with shaping India's economic and social welfare reforms. 
 
He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. As a Sikh, he was the first non-Hindu to occupy the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was also the first PM since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term.

He passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92.

Early life, education, and career
Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in Punjab. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Panjab University in 1952 and 1954 respectively. In 1957, he completed his Economic Tripos from Cambridge University. He gained a D Phil degree in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. Dr Singh taught as a senior lecturer and economics professor at Punjab University and as a professor of international trade at Delhi School of Economics.
 
He has also received honorary doctorates from University of Bologna, University of Jammu and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee.
 
In 1971, He joined the Government of India as an Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry and got promoted to Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) in the Finance Ministry in 1972. After a short journey at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretariat from 1966 to 1969, he was appointed Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva from 1987-1990. 
 
Moreover, he also held the positions of Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
 
Dr Singh has been a Member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991 where he was Leader of the Opposition from 1998-2004. Following the Congress Party’s historic victories in 2004 and 2009, he took the Office of Prime Minister on May 22, 2004 and again on May 22, 2009.

Latest Updates on Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh was no free market ideologue: Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Manmohan Singh was not a free-market ideologue but a reformer guided by pragmatism, integrity, and faith in the state's developmental role, says Ahluwalia

Updated On: 13 Nov 2025 | 11:10 PM IST

George Bush to Manmohan Singh: When shoes were hurled at prominent figures

Following the shoe-throwing attempt at CJI BR Gavai, here's a look at other similar incidents involving public figures

Updated On: 06 Oct 2025 | 3:01 PM IST

Didn't retaliate against 26/11 attacks under pressure from US: Chidambaram

Former Home Minister P Chidambaram reveals that he considered taking active retaliatory action against Pakistan after Mumbai terror attacks and discussed this with then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Updated On: 01 Oct 2025 | 1:46 PM IST

No, Minister: Subhash Chandra Garg's 2nd memoir mirrors tone of his first

The tenor of the second part of former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg's memoir is not dissimilar to that which pervaded his first one --and the title is a dead giveaway

Updated On: 11 Aug 2025 | 10:09 PM IST

Need 2nd gen economic reforms but inertia set in past 11 yrs: Cong on govt

The Congress leader alleged that due to the 'disastrous economic policies' of the Modi dispensation, 'which lacks both vision and action', the economy is reeling at a sub-par growth rate

Updated On: 24 Jul 2025 | 1:46 PM IST

Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan's security cover scaled down to Z category

The report further stated that the change in categorisation of security has also led to a reduction in the number of Delhi Police personnel sanctioned for Singh's immediate family members

Updated On: 04 Apr 2025 | 7:55 PM IST

Do not own land, home or stocks in India: Sam Pitroda dismisses allegations

BJP leader N R Ramesh has alleged that Sam Pitroda, with the help of senior government officers, illegally acquired 12.35 acres of govt land worth Rs 150 cr at Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka

Updated On: 27 Feb 2025 | 7:28 AM IST

Why no Bharat Ratna for former PM Manmohan Singh? Chidambaram asks govt

Retorting, Sharma recollected incidents during Singh's career, which according to him were examples of the Congress insulting the late prime minister

Updated On: 10 Feb 2025 | 8:57 PM IST

Best of BS Opinion: Union Budget 2025 aims to clear multiple hurdles

From nuclear power generation to agri reforms, from a noisy middle class to central bank's moves on interest rates, the government must jump over many obstacles to achieve its objectives

Updated On: 03 Feb 2025 | 6:15 AM IST

Manmohan Singh, a gentle giant with vision and commitment to change

Singh also had his pre-proposed ideas; what was in the textbook or his experience. But he opened the door; because he had an openness of thought, driven by his commitment to change

Updated On: 02 Feb 2025 | 10:01 PM IST

Epochal Budget to Dream Budget: 5 speeches that left an indelible mark

Since the independence of India, several finance ministers have presented Budgets that determined the course of the country's progress. Here are the five Budgets that left an indelible mark on economy

Updated On: 01 Feb 2025 | 9:46 AM IST

The architect of India's financial markets: Dr Singh's legacy of reforms

Of the many reforms that Dr Singh led as FM and PM, the transformation of India's securities markets stands out

Updated On: 28 Jan 2025 | 10:02 PM IST

India must thank Manmohan for shift from caste-based to class-based society

For ages, the halwahi ecosystem had maintained a civilisation that had kept trade cashless. Land and grains were the only form of wages

Updated On: 16 Jan 2025 | 11:49 PM IST

Manmohan Singh profoundly influenced our lives and India's growth

Manmohan Singh's visionary leadership not only transformed India's economy but also left an indelible impact on our professional journey and personal lives

Updated On: 10 Jan 2025 | 2:30 PM IST

A tribute: 'Manmohan Singh was unfailingly measured, thoughtful and wise'

Knowing Manmohan was one of the greatest privileges of my life. He showed me and everybody else what leadership and service truly mean

Updated On: 07 Jan 2025 | 11:00 PM IST

Manmohan's economic policies formed basis of India's growth: TN CM Stalin

Paying rich tributes to Singh at a memorial meeting organised by the TNCC here, MK Stalin said the late Prime Minister had served as Finance Minister during the economic crisis

Updated On: 07 Jan 2025 | 2:49 PM IST

Thousands gather to pay final tribute to former PM Manmohan Singh

Inside the hall, however, Singh's eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, gently reminded the gathering that this was a moment for prayer, not accolades

Updated On: 03 Jan 2025 | 11:51 PM IST

Updates: Grap 3 curbs back in Delhi-NCR amid rise in air pollution levels

Latest news updates: Catch all the major news updates from around the world

Updated On: 03 Jan 2025 | 9:52 PM IST

Sonia Gandhi, Kharge, others pay tribute to Manmohan Singh at prayer meet

Several top dignitaries paid tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at a prayer meet organised in his memory at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj here on Friday.

Updated On: 03 Jan 2025 | 9:21 PM IST

Prayer meet for late former PM Manmohan Singh to be held on Friday

Before the prayer meet, the family of the former PM would also hold a 'bhog' of the 'Akhand Path' kept in the memory of Singh at their 3, Motilal Nehru Marg residence

Updated On: 02 Jan 2025 | 11:25 PM IST