On December 26, the Congress honored former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the first anniversary of his passing, recalling him as a leader whose leadership transformed India’s economy and fortified democratic institutions. Singh passed away in Delhi on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92 due to age-related health issues. On December 28, he was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat with full state honors. The ceremony was attended by government dignitaries, family members, and senior political figures. Leaders from both parties also paid tribute.
DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, emphasized Singh’s contribution to the passage of important laws including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act in 2005, which he described as measures that supported labor dignity and transparency. He claimed that Singh’s leadership struck a balance between social duty and economic reform. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated that the former prime minister’s life was characterized by intelligence, integrity, and public service, while Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule referred to Singh as the mastermind of India’s economic reforms and a globally renowned economist.
Singh, a renowned economist who was born on September 26, 1932, was Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 until 1985. He oversaw extensive economic reforms as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, opening up the Indian economy and earning him reputation abroad. During his term, significant social and governance reforms were implemented, such as the 2005 enactment of the Right to Information Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (later renamed MGNREGA). After the 2014 general elections, Narendra Modi took over as prime minister. Many people still identify Singh with a decade that saw policy reform, economic growth, and an increase in India’s stature internationally.
