Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Remembered on His Birth Anniversary today

Former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is being remembered on his birth anniversary today. Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah village, near Chakwal of undivided Punjab, Singh went on to become one of India’s most prominent economists and political leaders.

Singh served as India’s 14th Prime Minister from May 2004 to May 2014, leading the United Progressive Alliance government for two consecutive terms. Before becoming Prime Minister, he served as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, a period widely associated with major economic reforms in India.

An accomplished economist, Singh studied at Panjab University and later earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge in 1957. He obtained a D.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. During his long public career, he also served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and Chairman of the University Grants Commission.

Singh entered Parliament as a Rajya Sabha member in 1991 and remained associated with the Upper House for decades. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22, 2004, and began his second term in 2009.

Among his major honours was the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, which he received in 1987. He also received several international academic and professional honours during his career.

Dr. Manmohan Singh died on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92. The Indian government declared seven days of state mourning following his death and accorded him a state funeral.

On his birth anniversary in 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh, recalling his contributions to the country during his long public life.