#ManmohanSingh#Cabinet
IBNS-CMEDIA: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed a ‘Condolence Resolution’ in the memory of former PM Manmohan Singh who died in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Cabinet paid homage to Dr. Manmohan Singh by observing a two-minute silence.
“State mourning is declared for seven days till 01.01.2025,” the Indian government said in a statement.
During this mourning period, the National Flag will be flown half-mast throughout Bharat.
“The National Flag will also be flown at half-mast in all the Indian Missions/High Commissions abroad for seven days till 01.01.2025,” the statement said.
“Dr. Manmohan Singh will be accorded State Funeral. On the day of State Funeral, a half day holiday will be declared in all the Central Government offices and CPSUs,” the statement said.
Singh, who served two terms as the PM of the world’s largest democrcy, died at the age 92 on Thursday.
The Congress veteran, who was architect of India’s economic liberation in the 1990s, was instrumental in maintaining peace talks with hostile neighbour Pakistan during his term which ran from 2004 to 2014.
Manmohan Singh rose to prominence as the country’s finance minister during the Congress regime headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, for bringing sweeping reforms that transformed the economy.
He retired from the Rajya Sabha in April 2024.
Regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reforms programme as the finance minister in the early 1990s, died at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday. He was 92.
“He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”
His family and senior Congress leader and parliamentarian Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were present at the hospital.
Later the Congress MP posted on X: “Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did.”
“His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents. He was genuinely egalitarian, wise, strongwilled and courageous until the end. A uniquely dignified and gentle man in the rough world of politics,” she wrote.
Manmohan Singh rose to prominence as the country’s finance minister during the Congress regime headed by PV Narasimha Rao during 1991-96, for bringing sweeping reforms that transformed the economy.
As the two-term UPA Prime Minister, he stayed at the top post from 2004 to 2014 and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha till early this year.
He retired from the Rajya Sabha in April.
The career graph of a mild-mannered technocrat turned politician
Born in Gah, West Punjab, now in Pakistan, Singh’s family migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from Oxford University, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969.
In 2004, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power, a reluctant Singh was made the Prime Minister of India by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. His first ministry executed several key legislations and projects, including the National Rural Health Mission, Unique Identification Authority, Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and Right to Information Act.
After his term ended, he opted out from the race for the office of prime minister during the 2014 Indian general election. Singh was never a member of the Lok Sabha but served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Assam from 1991 to 2019 and Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024.
