Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, architect of India's pivotal economic reforms, dies at 92

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday, December 26, at the age of 92. He had been in poor health for the last few months and is survived by his wife, Gurcharan Kaur Singh, and three daughters.

"With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92," according to an official statement by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the national capital, where he was admitted.

Dr Singh was being treated for age-related medical conditions when he suffered a sudden loss of consciousness at his residence on December 26.

The hospital stated, "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."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at Dr Singh's passing, praising his rise from humble beginnings to become a respected economist.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi visited the hospital upon learning of his hospitalisation.

Dr Singh served as Prime Minister for two terms in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014.

He is widely recognized as the chief architect of India's pivotal economic reforms in 1991, serving as Finance Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. His efforts rescued the economy from the verge of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah (in Punjab, Pakistan), he lost his mother at a young age and was raised by his paternal grandmother.

After the Partition, his family migrated to Haldwani.

He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics from Khalsa College and Panjab University, respectively.

Dr Singh also held a First Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a D Phil in Economics from Nuffield College, Oxford University, UK.