Manmohan Singh Birthday: Meet the economic reformer and former Prime Minister - 10 points

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh turned 90 today. Political leaders cutting across party lines greeted the renowned economist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent greetings to him and wished for his long and healthy life. "Birthday greetings to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. 

Singh served as Prime Minister of India between 2004-14 during the Congress-led UPA rule.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in the middle of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' that started from Kanyakumari, also wished Dr Singh on his birthday.

“Wishing one of India’s finest statesmen, Dr Manmohan Singh ji a very happy birthday. His humility, dedication and contribution to India’s development, have few parallels. He is an inspiration to me, and to crores of other Indians. I pray for his good health and happiness,” tweeted the Wayanad MP.

Singh also served as finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao-led government during 1991-96, an epochal era for the country's economy marked by wide-ranging reforms. He is well regarded for his diligence and his academic approach to work. 

All you need to know about former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: 

- Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India. 

- After completing his matriculation from Punjab University, he went on to study at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. 

- At the University of Cambridge, he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics. 

- Later, he complete D.Phil in Economics from Nuffield Collee at Oxford University in 1962. 

- Singh brushed up his academic credentials during the years he spend on the faculty of Punjab University and the Delhi School of Economics. 

- After a brief stint at the UNCTAG Secretariat, he served as Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva between 1987 and 1990. 

- In 1971, Dr Singh was appointed Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry. 

- Soon he was appointed as Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance. 

- During his career, he served in the capacity, including that of deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Advisor of the Prime Minister. 

- He also served as Finance Minister between 1991 and 1996.