Celebrating the 92nd Birthday of Dr. Manmohan Singh: A Visionary Leader and Economist
Today is the 92nd birthday of former Prime Minister of India, veteran economist and senior Congress leader Dr. Manmohan Singh. Manmohan Singh was born on 26 September 1932 in the Punjab province of Pakistan in undivided India. Dr. Singh served as Prime Minister in the UPA government from 2004-2014. Before becoming the Prime Minister, he has also been the Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government in 1991. Apart from politics, he has a great contribution to the country’s economy. Let's know about Dr. Manmohan Singh's political and social journey.
Role in India’s economic reform as Finance Minister
In 1991, then-Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao appointed Dr. Singh as the Finance Minister in his cabinet which was shocking news for the country. But after being assumed as Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan played an important role in the economic reforms in the country.
Dr. Manmohan Singh made important announcements related to liberalization, privatization and globalization during the budget, which could give new momentum to India's economy. Due to this, changes were made in the rules and regulations related to trade policy, industrial licensing, reforms in the banking sector and permission for direct foreign investment in the country.
Two times Prime Minister
If we look at Manmohan Singh's political career, Dr. Singh has been a member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) since 1991. There he was the Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. Dr. Manmohan Singh took oath as Prime Minister on 22 May after the 2004 general elections and took oath of office for the second term on 22 May 2009. He remained Prime Minister for ten consecutive years.
Positions held at different time
- Dr. Manmohan Singh has also worked with the United Nations. He was elected as the Economic Affairs Officer for the United Nations Conference during the year 1966-1969.
- Dr. Manmohan Singh has also been the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985. He had made many banking reforms during this period.
- Dr. Singh has also held the post of head of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987. He also held several positions including Chief Economic Advisor between 1972 and 1976.
- From 1987 to 1990, Manmohan Singh's tenure in the United Nations was as the Secretary General of the South Commission, which is an inter-governmental organization of developing economies.
- Congress leader Manmohan Singh was elected Rajya Sabha member from Assam in 1991. After this, he was again a Rajya Sabha member in the years 1995, 2001, 2007 2013 from Assam and in 2019 from Rajasthan. From 1998 to 2004, when the BJP was in power, he was the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. In 1999, he contested from South Delhi but could not win.
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Education
Manmohan Singh completed his education from Cambridge University. He also received a doctorate in economics from the world's famous educational institution Oxford University. Apart from Punjab University, Manmohan Singh has also worked as an academic at Delhi School of Economics and Delhi University.
Honoured with these awards
Manmohan Singh has been awarded India's second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan (1987), Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress (1995), Asia Money Award for Best Finance Minister of the Year (1993 and 1994), Euro Money Award for Best Finance Minister of the Year (1993), Adam Smith Prize of Cambridge University (1956), and Wright's Prize for Distinguished Performance at St. John's College in Cambridge (1955). Dr. Singh has been awarded honorary degrees by many universities including Cambridge and Oxford Universities.