Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Passes Away at 92

Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s renowned economist and former Prime Minister, passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday night. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, where Singh was admitted in critical condition, confirmed his demise.

An official statement from AIIMS detailed that Singh experienced a sudden loss of consciousness at home on the evening of December 26. Immediate resuscitative efforts were made before he was transported to the medical emergency department at AIIMS at 8:06 PM. Despite extensive efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM.

Dr. Singh, who served as Prime Minister for two terms (2004–2014) during the Congress-led UPA government, was instrumental in shaping India’s modern economy. As the Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991, he spearheaded economic reforms that steered India out of a financial crisis and initiated an era of liberalisation. These policies are widely credited with transforming India’s economic landscape.

Survived by his wife, Gurcharan Singh, and three daughters, Singh had been in declining health for several months. Upon hearing of his hospitalization, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rushed to AIIMS. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were reportedly traveling to Delhi from a party meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, when news of his passing broke.

Dr. Singh’s death marks the conclusion of an illustrious career that left an indelible mark on Indian politics and economics.