Team News Riveting
Raipur, December 26
Former Prime Minister and noted economist Manmohan Singh died on Thursday night.
Singh, 92, was brought to the emergency department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this evening in a critical condition after “sudden loss of consciousness” at home, the hospital authorities said in a statement. He was admitted to the hospital at 8.06 pm and was treated for the age-related ailments. He died at 9.51 pm, the authorities said.
“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,” a statement issued by AIIMS said.
Manmohan Singh’s family reached the hospital and so did Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are flying back to Delhi from Belagavi in Karnataka where they were attending a party event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences and said India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”
“Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister added.
A noted economist, Dr Manmohan Singh will be remembered for the economic reforms in the country.
In 1972, Singh was chief economic adviser in the Ministry of Finance, and in 1976 he was Secretary in the Finance Ministry. In 1980–1982 he was at the Planning Commission, and in 1982, he was appointed governor of the Reserve Bank of India under then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and held the post until 1985.
He went on to become the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (India) from 1985 to 1987.[7] Following his tenure at the Planning Commission, he was secretary general of the South Commission, an independent economic policy think tank headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland from 1987 to November 1990.
Singh returned to India from Geneva in November 1990 and held the post as the advisor to Prime Minister of India on economic affairs during the tenure of Chandra Shekar. In March 1991, he became chairman of the University Grants Commission.
In June 1991, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao chose Singh to be his finance minister.
