Biography of Manmohan Singh:
Manmohan Singh (born September 26, 1932) is an Indian economist and politician who served as the 14th Prime Minister of India.
Here’s a brief biography of Manmohan Singh:
Early Life:
Date of Birth: September 26, 1932
Place of Birth: Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan)
Manmohan Singh was born into a Sikh family in British India. His family migrated to Amritsar during the partition in 1947.
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| Biography of Manmohan Singh |
Manmohan Singh’s Education:
Manmohan Singh studied at Panjab University, Chandigarh, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics. He later pursued his D.Phil. in Economics from the University of Oxford.
Academic Career:
Singh had a distinguished academic career. He worked as a professor of international trade at the Delhi School of Economics and later at the Punjab University.
Government Career of Manmohan Singh:
Manmohan Singh entered the government in 1971 as the Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. He later served as the Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance.
In 1982, he was appointed as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a position he held until 1985.
Economic Reforms:
Manmohan Singh played a key role in implementing economic reforms in India in the early 1990s as the Finance Minister in the government of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.
The reforms, often referred to as the “Manmohan Singh reforms,” aimed at liberalizing the Indian economy and opening it up to globalization.
Political Career:
Singh’s entry into electoral politics occurred in 1991 when he was appointed as the Finance Minister. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1991 and again in 2001 from Assam.
In 2004, the Indian National Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, nominated Manmohan Singh as its candidate for the Prime Minister’s post, and he subsequently became the Prime Minister.
Manmohan Singh’s Prime Ministership:
Manmohan Singh served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, making him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in the country.
His tenure saw a focus on economic growth, social welfare programs, and efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Challenges and Achievements:
During his tenure, Singh faced challenges such as the global economic crisis of 2008 and various corruption controversies.
He initiated several social and economic programs, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and the Right to Information Act.
Retirement:
Manmohan Singh did not seek re-election after the completion of his second term in 2014.
He continues to be active in public life and has occasionally expressed his views on economic and political matters.
Legacy of Manmohan Singh:
Manmohan Singh is often credited with steering India through a period of economic liberalization and growth.
Despite facing criticism on various fronts, Singh is respected for his academic achievements, economic expertise, and his role in shaping India’s economic policies.
Manmohan Singh’s legacy is closely tied to his contributions to India’s economic reforms and his tenure as the Prime Minister during a crucial period in the country’s history.