Thu Dec 26 17:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Former Indian Prime Minister and Economist Dr. Manmohan Singh Passes Away at 92
**New Delhi, India** – Former Indian Prime Minister and renowned economist Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away late Thursday night at the age of 92. He was admitted to AIIMS hospital earlier in the evening after his health deteriorated.
Dr. Singh’s legacy is marked by significant contributions to India’s economic liberalization. As Finance Minister, he played a pivotal role in the 1991 economic reforms, which included reducing government control, increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and implementing structural reforms that opened the Indian economy to global markets.
His tenure as Prime Minister also saw the introduction of several landmark initiatives. These include the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in 2005, guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households; the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2005, promoting government transparency; the Aadhaar project, providing unique identification to residents; and the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, streamlining welfare delivery. His government also implemented a ₹60,000 crore agricultural loan waiver in 2008 to address an agricultural crisis.
A key achievement was negotiating the landmark India-US civilian nuclear deal, granting India access to nuclear technology and uranium from other nations while allowing for the separation of its civilian and military nuclear programs.
Dr. Singh’s death is mourned across India and the world, leaving behind a profound impact on the nation’s economic and political landscape.
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