New Delhi: Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26 in Delhi. His age was 92 and was admitted to the emergency department of the AIIMS New Delhi for issues related to heart disease and old age. He passed away a few hours after being hospitalised.
During his days as the Finance Minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government, Manmohan Singh changed the course of Indian economy by liberalising it. From 2004 to 2014, he was the Prime Minister of India and took several steps for the country’s development. Tributes are pouring in from all parts of the country and beyond after the demise of one of India’s most decorated statesmen.
Lesser-known facts about Manmohan Singh
Born in Pakistan
On September 26, 1932, Manmohan Singh was born in Gah which is today located in Pakistan’s Punjab. He lost his mother when he was very young and did his early schooling in Urdu medium. His family migrated to India’s Haldwani after the Partition and later relocated to Amritsar.
First foray into government
In the late 1960s, Manmohan Singh was still an academician when Union Minister Manmohan Singh spotted his talent as an economist. He made Singh an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, marking the latter’s first foray into the government. In 1972, he became the Finance Ministry’s chief economic adviser and in 1976, he became the secretary in the Finance Ministry.
The governor of RBI
Before becoming the Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh was the Reserve Bank of India’s governor and he served in that role from 1982 to 1986. At that time, Pranab Mukherjee was the Finance Minister of India. Later, from 1985 to 1987, he served as the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission in India.
Becoming India’s Finance Minister
In June 1991, PV Narasimha Rao, who was the Prime Minister of India then chose Singh to be his Finance Minister. It marked the beginning of Singh’s political journey, who did not even contest in any election nor was a member of any political party till that point. Singh becoming the Finance Minister was a watershed moment in the history of modern Indian economy.
Changing the economy of India
When Manmohan Singh became the Finance Minister of India in 1991, India’s fiscal deficit was close to 8.5 per cent of the GDP and the country was going through a severe economic crisis. He is one of the most influential architects of India’s socialist economy who eliminated the permit raj, reduced import taxes and reduced state control of the economy. He dismantled the License Raj, liberalised Indian economy and led to FDI. His tenure as the Finance Minister of India from 1991 to 1996 changed the economy of modern India.
A surprising choice for the role of PM
Congress registered a thumping win the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and became the single largest party. It formed the UPA government with its allies and there was a debate about who would be the Prime Minister in the government. In a move that surprised everyone, Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh as the candidate for the PM role, despite the fact that he was never a member of the Lok Sabha. On May 22, 2004, he took oath as India’s PM, and he would serve in that role for a second term till 2014.
RTI, RTE and NREGA
The government of Manmohan Singh took several important steps for the development of India. Under his leadership, Indian economy prospered and became the second fastest growing major economy in the world in 2007. In 2005, his government started the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and in 2009, his government brought the Right to Education Act (RTE). His government amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to strengthen the fight against terrorism. In 2005, the Parliament of India passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act. In August 2009, his government enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
A decorated life
Manmohan Singh was honoured with several awards during his lifetime. In 1987, he was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India. In 2010, Saudi Arabia honoured him with Order of King Abdulaziz, the second-highest civilian honour of the country and in 2014, Japan honoured him with Order of the Paulownia Flowers, the country’s second-highest civilian honour.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away at age 92. His career included pivotal roles as Finance Minister, where he spearheaded economic liberalisation, and as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
