Manmohan Singh: Difference between revisions

{{other people}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}

| image              = Dr. Manmohan Singh.jpg

| alt                = Manmohan Singh

| caption            = Official portrait, 2009

| president          = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] <br /> [[Pratibha Patil]] <br /> [[Pranab Mukherjee]]

| vicepresident      = [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] <br /> [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]]

| order1              = 16th

| office1            = Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

| primeminister1      = ''Himself''

| term_start1        = 23 May 2004

| predecessor1        = [[Lal Krishna Advani]]

| office3            = 22nd [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]]

| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1932|9|26}}

| birth_place        = [[Gah, Pakistan|Gah]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]])

| children            = 3, including [[Upinder Singh|Upinder]] and [[Daman Singh|Daman]]

| alma_mater          = {{nowrap|[[Panjab University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br />[[University of Cambridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Oxford]] ([[PhD]])}}

| profession          = {{hlist |[[Economist]]|academician|bureaucrat|politician}}

| residence          = 3 Motilal Nehru Marg, [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], [[India]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/former-pm-manmohan-singh-moves-to-3-motilal-nehru-marg-1543989.html | title=Former PM Manmohan Singh moves to 3, Motilal Nehru Marg| date=27 May 2014}}</ref>

| awards             = [[Padma Vibushan]] <br /> [[Adam Smith Prize]]

| constituency4      = [[Rajasthan]]

| constituency5      = [[Assam]]

Born in [[Gah, Pakistan|Gah]], [[Punjab (region)|West Punjab]], in what is today [[Pakistan]], Singh's family migrated to India during [[Partition of India|its partition]] in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Oxford]], Singh worked for the [[United Nations|UN]] during 1966–1969. He subsequently began his bureaucratic career when [[Lalit Narayan Mishra]] hired him as an advisor in the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Commerce and Industry]]. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key posts in the [[Government of India]], such as [[Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India|Chief Economic Advisor]] (1972–1976), governor of the [[Reserve Bank of India|Reserve Bank]] (1982–1985) and head of the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]] (1985–1987).

In 2004, when the Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] came to power, its chairperson [[Sonia Gandhi]] unexpectedly relinquished the prime ministership to Singh. His [[first Manmohan Singh ministry|first ministry]] executed several key legislations and projects, including the [[National Rural Health Mission]], [[Unique Identification Authority of India|Unique Identification Authority]], [[Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act|Rural Employment Guarantee]] scheme and [[Right to Information Act]]. In 2008, opposition to a historic [[U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Agreement|civil nuclear agreement with the United States]] nearly caused Singh's government to fall after [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] parties withdrew their support. India's economy grew rapidly under his reign.

The [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general election]] saw the UPA return with an increased mandate, with Singh retaining the office of Prime Minister. Over the next few years, Singh's [[second Manmohan Singh ministry|second ministry]] government faced a number of corruption charges over the organisation of the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]], the [[2G spectrum allocation case]] and the [[Indian coal allocation scam|allocation of coal blocks]]. After his term ended in 2014 he opted out from the race for the office of the [[Prime Minister of India|PM]] during the [[2014 Indian general election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=India's Manmohan Singh to step down as PM|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/03/india-manmohan-singh-rahul-gandhi-narendra-modi|access-date=20 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=3 January 2014}}</ref> Singh was never a [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|member of the Lok Sabha]] but has served as a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]], representing the state of [[Assam]] from 1991 to 2019 and [[Rajasthan]] since 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 May 2019 |title=Congress to move Manmohan Singh from Assam |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-to-move-manmohan-singh-from-assam/article27141531.ece |access-date=5 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Singh was born to Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur on 26 September 1932, in [[Gah, Pakistan|Gah]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]], into a [[Sikh]] family.<ref name="dr mms">{{cite web|title=Detailed Profile: Dr. Manmohan Singh |url=http://india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=2 |access-date=18 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207031001/http://india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=2 |archive-date=7 December 2011 }}</ref> He lost his mother when he was very young and was raised by his paternal grandmother, to whom he was very close.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} His early schooling was in the [[Urdu]] medium, and even as Prime Minister years later, he wrote his apparently [[Hindi]] speeches in the [[Urdu script]], although sometimes he would also use [[Gurmukhi]], a script used to write [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], his mother tongue.

After the [[Partition of India]], his family migrated to [[Amritsar]], India, where he studied at Hindu College, Amritsar.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} He attended [[Panjab University]], then in [[Hoshiarpur]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punjabcolleges.com/522-indiacolleges-Government-College-Hoshiarpur/ |title=Government College, Hoshiarpur &#124; Colleges in Hoshiarpur Punjab |publisher=Punjabcolleges.com |access-date=26 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://portal.bsnl.in/bsnl/asp/content%20mgmt/html%20content/hotnews/hotnews35448.html |title=Three sardars and their Hoshiarpur connection |publisher=Portal.bsnl.in |date=23 March 1932 |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128174157/http://portal.bsnl.in/bsnl/asp/content%20mgmt/html%20content/hotnews/hotnews35448.html |archive-date=28 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/hoshiarpur/recent/4 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712035246/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/hoshiarpur/recent/4 | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 July 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Hoshiarpur}}</ref> Punjab, studying Economics and got his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1952 and 1954, respectively, standing first throughout his academic career. He completed his Economics Tripos at [[University of Cambridge]] in 1957. He was a member of [[St John's College, Cambridge|St John's College]].<ref name=CSIR>{{cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae of Prime Minister of India |url=http://www.csir.res.in/external/heads/aboutcsir/leaders/president/CV-manmohan.HTM |work=CSIR |access-date=13 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124024215/http://www.csir.res.in/external/heads/aboutcsir/leaders/president/CV-manmohan.HTM |archive-date=24 January 2012 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|I first became conscious of the creative role of politics in shaping human affairs, and I owe that mostly to my teachers [[Joan Robinson]] and [[Nicholas Kaldor]]. Joan Robinson was a brilliant teacher, but she also sought to awaken the inner conscience of her students in a manner that very few others were able to achieve. She questioned me a great deal and made me think the unthinkable. She propounded the left wing interpretation of Keynes, maintaining that the state has to play more of a role if you really want to combine development with social equity. Kaldor influenced me even more; I found him pragmatic, scintillating, stimulating. Joan Robinson was a great admirer of what was going on in China, but Kaldor used the Keynesian analysis to demonstrate that capitalism could be made to work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=13290|title=Manmohan Singh – PIB|website=Press Information Bureau|access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref>}}

After Cambridge, Singh returned to India and served as a teacher at [[Panjab University]].<ref name=TULLY>[[Mark Tully]]. "[http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/uploads/File/CAMArticles/Michalemas2005/cam_2005_46_profile1.pdf Architect of the New India]". ''Cambridge Alumni Magazine''. Michaelmas 2005. Retrieved on 28 February 2013. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701144359/http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/uploads/File/CAMArticles/Michalemas2005/cam_2005_46_profile1.pdf |date=1 July 2013 }}</ref> In 1960, he went to the [[University of Oxford]] for his [[DPhil]], where he was a member of [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield College]]. His 1962 doctoral thesis under the supervision of [[Ian Little (economist)|I.M.D. Little]] was titled "India's export performance, 1951–1960, export prospects and policy implications", and was later the basis for his book "India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/cv.pdf |title=Curriculum Vitae |access-date=11 December 2008 |publisher=[[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister's Office]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221094735/http://pmindia.nic.in/cv.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2007 }}</ref>

After completing his D.Phil., Singh returned to India. He was a senior lecturer of economics at [[Panjab University]] from 1957 to 1959. During 1959 and 1963, he served as a [[Reader (academic rank)|reader]] in economics at Panjab University, and from 1963 to 1965, he was an economics professor there.<ref name="Bhushan">{{cite book |last1=Bhushan |first1=K. |last2=Katyal |first2=G. |title=Manmohan Singh: Visionary to Certainty |date=2004 |publisher=APH Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-8176486941 |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEaDKgzcs3gC&pg=PA2 |access-date=25 November 2019}}</ref> Then he went to work for the [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (UNCTAD) from 1966 to 1969.<ref name=CSIR /> Later, he was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade by [[Lalit Narayan Mishra]], in recognition of Singh's talent as an economist.<ref name="Advisor">{{cite news |title=Manmohan Singh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/manmohan-singh |access-date=13 July 2020 |work=India Today |agency=Living Media India Limited}}</ref>

From 1969 to 1971, Singh was a professor of international trade at the [[Delhi School of Economics]], [[University of Delhi]].<ref name=CSIR /><ref>{{cite web|title=Detailed Profile: Dr. Manmohan Singh|url=http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=2|website=india.gov.in|access-date=23 July 2015}}</ref>

In 1972, Singh was chief economic adviser in the Ministry of Finance, and in 1976 he was secretary in the Finance Ministry.<ref name= CSIR /> In 1980–1982 he was at the Planning Commission, and in 1982, he was appointed governor of the [[Reserve Bank of India]] under then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and held the post until 1985.<ref name =CSIR /> He went on to become the deputy chairman of the [[Planning Commission (India)]] from 1985 to 1987.<ref name="dr mms" /> Following his tenure at the Planning Commission, he was secretary general of the [[South Centre (organization)|South Commission]], an independent economic policy think tank headquartered in [[Geneva]], Switzerland from 1987 to November 1990.<ref name="India – Head of Government">{{cite web|url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/172024/head_of_government |title=India – Head of Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201163629/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/172024/head_of_government/ |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref>

Singh returned to India from Geneva in November 1990 and held the post as the advisor to Prime Minister of India on economic affairs during the tenure of [[Chandra Shekhar|Chandra Shekar]].<ref name= CSIR /> In March 1991, he became chairman of the University Grants Commission.<ref name =CSIR />

== Family and personal life ==

Singh married [[Gursharan Kaur]] in 1958. They have three daughters, [[Upinder Singh]], [[Daman Singh]] and Amrit Singh.<ref name="personal profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.pmindia.nic.in/meet.htm |title=Dr. Manmohan Singh: Personal Profile |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, Government of India |access-date=4 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303150424/http://pmindia.nic.in/meet.htm |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> Upinder Singh is a professor of history at [[Ashoka University]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=University |first1=Ashoka |title=Faculty/Staff |url=https://ashoka.edu.in/faculty#!/upinder-singh-1055 |website=Ashoka University |access-date=11 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She has written six books, including ''Ancient Delhi'' (1999) and ''A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India'' (2008). Daman Singh is a graduate of [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]] and [[Institute of Rural Management, Anand|Institute of Rural Management]], Anand, Gujarat, and author of ''The Last Frontier: People and Forests in Mizoram'' and a novel ''Nine by Nine'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2009/jan/28slid1-dr-manmohan-singhs-daughter-daman-singh-turns-author.htm|title=Meet Dr. Singh's daughter|date=28 January 2009|work=Rediff.com|access-date=4 April 2009}}</ref> Amrit Singh is a staff attorney at the [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-21/india/27983907_1_aclu-statement-cia-tapes |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121024115733/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-21/india/27983907_1_aclu-statement-cia-tapes |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 October 2012 |title= PM's daughter puts White House in the dock|access-date=13 October 2008 |last= Rajghatta|first= Chidanand|work= [[The Times of India]] |date= 21 December 2007 }}</ref> Ashok Pattnaik, 1983 batch [[Indian Police Service]] officer, son-in-law of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was appointed CEO of National Intelligence Grid ([[NATGRID]]) in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/natgrid-nda-home-minister-p-chidambaram-26-11/1/753750.html |title=An NDA boost for NATGRID, Home Minister reviews progress |date=31 August 2016 |work=India Today |access-date=1 September 2016 |location=New Delhi, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901035542/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/natgrid-nda-home-minister-p-chidambaram-26-11/1/753750.html |archive-date=1 September 2016 }}</ref>

 

Singh has undergone multiple [[cardiac bypass surgery|cardiac bypass surgeries]], the most recent of which took place in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200901241640.htm |title=One graft successfully performed on Manmohan Singh |date=24 January 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=24 January 2009 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414041423/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200901241640.htm |archive-date=14 April 2009 }}</ref>

In June 1991, India's prime minister at the time, [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], chose Singh to be his finance minister. Singh told Mark Tully the British journalist in 2005 "On the day (Rao) was formulating his cabinet, he sent his Principal Secretary to me saying, 'The PM would like you to become the Minister of Finance'. I didn't take it seriously. He eventually tracked me down the next morning, rather angry, and demanded that I get dressed up and come to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the swearing in. So that's how I started in politics".<ref name=TULLY />

In 1991, India's fiscal deficit was close to 8.5 per cent of the gross domestic product, the [[balance of payments]] deficit was huge and the [[current account deficit]] was close to 3.5 percent of India's GDP.<ref name="rediff Business Desk">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/sep/26pm.htm |title= Manmohan Singh: Father of Indian Reform |date=26 September 2005 |work=Rediff.com |access-date=3 January 2010}}</ref> India's foreign reserves barely amounted to US$1&nbsp;billion, enough to pay for 2 weeks of imports,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/tr_show02.html |title=Commanding Heights : Episode 2 &#124; on PBS |publisher=Pbs.org |access-date=3 November 2015}}</ref> in comparison to US$600&nbsp;billion today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.biz.yahoo.com/100101/50/bauua1.html |title=Forex reserves swell 11% in 2009 |author=Mahalakshmi Hariharan |date=2 January 2010 |publisher=Yahoo Finance India |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103094134/http://in.biz.yahoo.com/100101/50/bauua1.html |archive-date=3 January 2010 }}</ref>

 

Evidently, India was facing an economic crisis. At this point, the government of India sought funds from the supranational [[International Monetary Fund]], which, while assisting India financially, imposed several conditions regarding India's economic policy. In effect, IMF-dictated policy meant that the ubiquitous [[Licence Raj]] had to be dismantled, and India's attempt at a state-controlled economy had to end.

Singh explained to the PM and the party that India is facing an unprecedented crisis.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> However the rank and file of the party resisted deregulation.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> So Chidambaram and Singh explained to the party that the economy would collapse if it was not deregulated.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> To the dismay of the party, Rao allowed Singh to deregulate the [[Economy of India|Indian economy]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

 

 

In 1993, Singh offered his resignation from the post of Finance Minister after a parliamentary investigation report criticised his ministry for not being able to anticipate a US$1.8&nbsp;billion [[1992 Indian stock market scam|securities scandal]]. Prime Minister Rao refused Singh's resignation, instead promising to punish the individuals directly accused in the report.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/01/world/indian-leader-bars-key-aide-from-quitting-in-stock-scam.html?pagewanted=1 |title= Indian Leader Bars Key Aide From Quitting in Stock Scam |work=The New York Times |date=1 January 1994 |access-date=7 April 2010}}</ref>

Singh was first elected to the upper house of Parliament, the [[Rajya Sabha]], in 1991<ref name="MSRj01">{{cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/govt/primeminister.php |title=Profile: Prime Minister India |publisher=Indian gov. |access-date=23 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422203715/http://india.gov.in/govt/primeminister.php |archive-date=22 April 2009 }}</ref> [[Rajya Sabha#Membership|by the legislature]] of the state of Assam, and was re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007<ref name="dr mms" /> and 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pm-manmohan-singh-elected-to-rajya-sabha_851741.html|title=PM Manmohan Singh elected to Rajya Sabha|publisher=Zee News Limited|access-date=11 June 2013|date=30 May 2013}}</ref> From 1998 to 2004, while the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] was in power, Singh was the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. In 1999, he contested for the [[Lok Sabha]] from [[South Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency)|South Delhi]] but was unable to win the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/candidate/MANMOHAN%20SINGH.html |title=Candidate Statistics Manmohan Singh |publisher=IBN Live |access-date=30 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419075333/http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/candidate/Manmohan%20Singh.html |archive-date=19 April 2009 }}</ref>

== Prime Minister ==

[[File:The President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam authorizing the Prime Minister designate Dr. Manmohan Singh to form the next Government in New Delhi on May 19, 2004.jpg|thumb|250px|right|11th [[President of India]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] authorizing the Prime Minister designate Manmohan Singh to form the next Government in New Delhi on 19 May 2004]]

After the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general elections]], the Indian National Congress ended the incumbent [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) tenure by becoming the political party with the single largest number of seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]. It formed [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) with allies and staked claim to form government. In a surprise move, Chairperson [[Sonia Gandhi]] declared Manmohan Singh, a [[Technocracy|technocrat]], as the UPA candidate for the Prime Ministership. Despite the fact that Singh had never won a Lok Sabha seat, according to the [[BBC]], he "enjoyed massive popular support, not least because he was seen by many as a clean politician untouched by the taint of corruption that has run through many Indian administrations."<ref name="bbcprofile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3725357.stm|title=Profile: Manmohan Singh|work=BBC News|date= 30 March 2009|access-date=7 April 2010}}</ref> He took the oath as the Prime Minister of India on 22 May 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manmohan to Advani: Change your astrologers, stop abuse against me|work=Thaindian News|date=22 July 2008|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/manmohan-to-advani-change-your-astrologers-stop-abuse-against-me_10074778.html|access-date=23 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Manmohan takes on Advani: Babri destruction his only contribution|work=Southasia Times|date=25 March 2009}}</ref>

In 1991, Singh, as Finance Minister, abolished the [[Licence Raj]], source of slow economic growth and [[Corruption in India|corruption in the Indian economy]] for decades. He liberalised the Indian economy, allowing it to speed up development dramatically. During his term as Prime Minister, Singh continued to encourage growth in the Indian market, enjoying widespread success in these matters. Singh, along with his Finance Minister, [[P. Chidambaram]], presided over a period where the Indian economy grew with an 8–9% economic growth rate. In 2007, India achieved its highest GDP growth rate of 9% and became the second [[List of countries by real GDP growth rate|fastest growing major economy]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/india/ |title=CIA – The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=15 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="astaire">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukibc.com/ukindia2/files/India60.pdf |title=The India Report |publisher=Astaire Research |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195859/http://www.ukibc.com/ukindia2/files/India60.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2009 }}</ref> Singh's ministry enacted a [[National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005|National Employment Guarantee Act]] (MGNREGA) in 2005.

Singh's government continued the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] and the highway modernisation program that was initiated by [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]]'s government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic benefits of golden Quadilateral|date=4 May 2013 |url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/economic-benefits-of-the-golden-quadrilateral-project/1/194321.html|publisher=Business today|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> Singh also worked on reforming the banking and financial sectors, as well as public sector companies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Banking on reform|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/banking-on-reform/1059372/|access-date=14 June 2013|newspaper=Indian Express}}</ref> The Finance ministry worked towards relieving farmers of their debt and worked towards pro-industry policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Farmer Waiver Scheme- PM statement|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=39122|publisher=PIB|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> In 2005, Singh's government introduced the [[value added tax]], replacing [[sales tax]]. In 2007 and early 2008, the [[Economic crisis of 2008#Inflation|global problem of inflation]] impacted India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Global inflation climbs to historic levels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/business/worldbusiness/12iht-inflate.1.9963291.html|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Kevin Plumberg|author2=Steven C. Johnson|access-date=17 June 2011|date=2 November 2008}}</ref>

In 2005, Prime Minister Singh and his government's health ministry started the [[National Rural Health Mission]] (NHRM), which mobilised half a million community health workers. This rural health initiative was praised by the American economist [[Jeffrey Sachs]].<ref name="timepoverty">{{cite magazine|title=The End of Poverty|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1034738,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317031951/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1034738,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2005|first=Jeffrey D.|last=Sachs|date=6 March 2005|magazine=Time}}</ref> In 2006, his Government implemented the proposal to reserve 27% of seats in All India Institute of Medical Studies (AIIMS), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other central institutions of higher education for Other Backward Classes which led to [[2006 Indian anti-reservation protests]].

On 2 July 2009, Singh ministry introduced The [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009|Right to Education Act]] (RTE) act. Eight [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IIT's]] were opened in the states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], Bihar, [[Gujarat]], Orissa, [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], Madhya Pradesh, [[Rajasthan]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web|title=LS passes bill to provide IIT for eight states.|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/148456/ls-passes-bill-provide-iit.html|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref> The Singh government also continued the [[Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan]] programme. The programme includes the introduction and improvement of mid-day meals and the opening of schools all over India, especially in rural areas, to fight [[illiteracy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Direct SSA funds for school panels|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/338571/direct-ssa-funds-school-panels.html|access-date=14 June 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

Singh's government strengthened anti-terror laws with amendments to [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] (UAPA). [[National Investigation Agency (India)|National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) was also created soon after the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attacks]], as need for a central agency to combat terrorism was realised. Also, [[Unique Identification Authority of India]] was established in February 2009, an agency responsible for implementing the envisioned [[Multipurpose National Identity Card]] with the objective of increasing national security and facilitating e-governance.

 

Singh's administration initiated a massive reconstruction effort in [[Kashmir]] to stabilise the region but after some period of success, insurgent infiltration and terrorism in Kashmir has increased since 2009.<ref name=Buzz7 /> However, the Singh administration was successful in reducing terrorism in Northeast India.<ref name=Buzz7>[http://buzz7.com/news/infiltration-has-not-reduced-in-kashmir-insurgency-down-in-north-east-chidambaram.html Infiltration has not reduced in Kashmir, insurgency down in North East: Chidambaram] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107072045/http://buzz7.com/news/infiltration-has-not-reduced-in-kashmir-insurgency-down-in-north-east-chidambaram.html |date=7 January 2016 }}</ref>

The important [[National Rural Employment Guarantee Act]] (NREGA) and the [[Right to Information Act]] were passed by the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] in 2005 during his tenure. While the effectiveness of the NREGA has been successful at various degrees, in various regions, the RTI act has proved crucial in India's fight against corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merinews.com/article/rti-act-a-strong-tool-to-cleanse-corruption-in-india/15787433.shtml|title=RTI Act: A strong tool to cleanse corruption in India|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> New cash benefits were also introduced for widows, pregnant women, and landless persons.<ref>[http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---gender/documents/publication/wcms_233599.pdf Gender Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113142937/http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---gender/documents/publication/wcms_233599.pdf |date=13 November 2022 }}. ''[[ilo.org]]''.</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKrQOAKQX60C&q=Indira%20UPA%20government%20social%20security&pg=PA360|title=India Business Yearbook 2009|first=Career Launcher India|last=Ltd|date=1 November 2009|publisher=Vikas Publishing House Pvt Limited|access-date=16 November 2016|via=Google Books|isbn=9788125930860}}</ref>

[[The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013]] was passed on 29 August 2013 in the [[Lok Sabha]] (lower house of the Indian parliament) and on 4 September 2013 in [[Rajya Sabha]] (upper house of the Indian parliament). The bill received the assent of the [[President of India]], [[Pranab Mukherjee]] on 27 September 2013.<ref name=ndtv1>{{cite news|title=President Pranab Mukherjee gives nod to Land Acquisition Bill|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/president-pranab-mukherjee-gives-nod-to-land-acquisition-bill-424675|access-date=10 October 2013|newspaper=NDTV|date=27 September 2013}}</ref> The Act came into force from 1 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gazette Notification of coming into force of the Act |url=http://dolr.nic.in/dolr/downloads/pdfs/Right%20to%20FC%26T%20in%20LAR%26RA%202013%20Gazette%20Notification%20.pdf |publisher=Government of India |access-date=4 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104205638/http://dolr.nic.in/dolr/downloads/pdfs/Right%20to%20FC%26T%20in%20LAR%26RA%202013%20Gazette%20Notification%20.pdf |archive-date=4 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The New Land Acquisition Act to come into effect from 2014|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-10-16/news/43107324_1_monsoon-session-jairam-ramesh-new-land-acquisition-act|access-date=1 November 2013|newspaper=Economic Times|date=16 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Land Acquisition bill to be notified early next year: Jairam Ramesh|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/news/42083755_1_land-acquisition-bills-land-rights-land-deeds|access-date=10 October 2013|newspaper=Economic Times|date=15 September 2013}}</ref>

[[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] was enacted on 4 August 2009, which describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the [[Indian Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.nic.in/constitutional.asp |title=Provisions of the Constitution of India having a bearing on Education |publisher=Department of Higher Education |access-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201181216/http://www.education.nic.in/constitutional.asp |archive-date=1 February 2010 }}</ref> India became one of 135 countries to make [[Right to education|education a fundamental right]] of every child when the act came into force on 1 April 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article337111.ece|title=Education is a fundamental right now|author=Aarti Dhar|date=1 April 2010|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8598167.stm|title=India launches children's right to education|date=1 April 2010|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article365232.ece|title=India joins list of 135 countries in making education a right|date=2 April 2010|publisher=The Hindu News|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

| caption2          = Manmohan Singh with American President [[Barack Obama]] and [[George W. Bush]] at the [[White House]]

Manmohan Singh continued the [[Foreign relations of India|pragmatic foreign policy]] that was started by [[P.V. Narasimha Rao]] and continued by [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]. Singh continued the [[India-Pakistan relations|peace process with Pakistan]] initiated by his predecessor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Exchange of high-level visits by top leaders from both countries have highlighted his tenure. Efforts have been made during Singh's tenure to end the border dispute with People's Republic of China. In November 2006, Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] visited India which was followed by Singh's visit to Beijing in January 2008. A major development in [[Sino-Indian relations]] was the reopening of the [[Nathula Pass]] in 2006 after being closed for more than four decades.<ref name="state visit">{{cite web |title=Visits of Heads of States/Heads of Governments |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/China_Jan_2016.pdf |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs (India) |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> [[Premier of the People's Republic of China|Premier of the State Council]] of the People's Republic of China, [[Li Keqiang]] paid a state visit to India (Delhi-[[Mumbai]]) from 19 to 21 May 2013.<ref name="state visit" /> Singh paid an official visit to China from 22 to 24 October 2013.<ref name="state visit" /> Signed were three agreements establishing [[Sister Cities International|sister-city partnership]] between Delhi-[[Beijing]], Kolkata-[[Kunming]] and Bangalore-[[Chengdu]]. As of 2010, the People's Republic of China is the second biggest trade partner of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90861/6873167.html|title=China becomes India's 2nd largest trade partner – People's Daily Online|access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

[[India-Afghanistan relations|Relations with Afghanistan]] have improved considerably, with India now becoming the largest regional donor to Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/17474/indiaafghanistan_relations.html|title=India-Afghanistan Relations|access-date=11 December 2008|last=Bajoria|first=Jayshree|date=23 October 2008|publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129231738/http://www.cfr.org/publication/17474/indiaafghanistan_relations.html|archive-date=29 November 2008}}</ref> During Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]]'s visit to New Delhi in August 2008, Manmohan Singh increased the aid package to Afghanistan for the development of more schools, health clinics, infrastructure, and defence.<ref name=BBC2>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7540204.stm|title=BBC NEWS – South Asia – India announces more Afghan aid|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> Under the leadership of Singh, India emerged as one of the single largest aid donors to Afghanistan.<ref name=BBC2 />

[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in China 14 April 2011-2.jpeg|thumb|left|Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with [[Dmitry Medvedev]], [[Hu Jintao]], [[Dilma Rousseff]] and [[Jacob Zuma]] at the [[2011 BRICS summit]] in [[Sanya]], China]]

Singh's government worked towards stronger [[India-US relations|ties with the United States]]. He visited the United States in July 2005 initiating negotiations over the [[Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement]]. This was followed by [[George W. Bush]]'s successful visit to India in March 2006, during which the declaration over the nuclear agreement was made, giving India access to American nuclear fuel and technology while India will have to allow [[IAEA]] inspection of its civil [[nuclear reactor]]s. After more than two years for more negotiations, followed by approval from the IAEA, [[Nuclear Suppliers Group]] and the [[US Congress]], India and the US signed the agreement on 10 October 2008 with [[Pranab Mukherjee]] representing India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6513319.html| title=U.S., India ink historic civilian nuclear deal|access-date=11 December 2008|date=11 October 2008|work=People's Daily}}</ref> Singh had the first official state visit to the White House during the administration of US President [[Barack Obama]]. The visit took place in November 2009, and several discussions took place, including on trade and nuclear power.<ref name="CSIS">{{cite web |title=Manmohan Singh's U.S. Visit |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/manmohan-singh%E2%80%99s-us-visit |publisher=Centre for Strategic and International Studies |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

Relations have improved with Japan and [[European Union]] countries, like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Relations with Iran have continued and negotiations over the [[Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline]] have taken place. New Delhi hosted an India–Africa Summit in April 2006 which was attended by the leaders of 15 African states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/several-african-leaders-to-attend-africa-india-summit-au-says/|title=Several African leaders to attend Africa-India summit, AU says|access-date=11 December 2008|date=28 March 2008|publisher=African Press International}}</ref> Relations have improved with other developing countries, particularly Brazil and South Africa. Singh carried forward the momentum which was established after the "Brasilia Declaration" in 2003 and the [[IBSA Dialogue Forum]] was formed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=3708 |title=IBSA Dialogue Forum: A Strategic Partnership |access-date=11 December 2008 |last=Beri |first=Ruchita |date=10 December 2008 |work=The African Executive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411204949/http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=3708 |archive-date=11 April 2009 }}</ref>

Singh's government has also been especially keen on [[India-Israel relations|expanding ties with Israel]]. Since 2003, the two countries have made significant investments in each other<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=ea163747-b106-4e32-b231-7eb64de62985 |title=India and Israel: The great seduction |access-date=11 December 2008 |last=Halarnkar |first=Samar |date=23 October 2007 |work=Hindustan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107062435/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=ea163747-b106-4e32-b231-7eb64de62985 |archive-date=7 January 2009 }}</ref> and Israel now rivals Russia to become India's defence partner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DD163BF934A3575AC0A9659C8B63|title=The Bond Between India and Israel Grows|access-date=11 December 2008|last=Waldman|first=Amy|date=7 September 2003|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Though there have been a few diplomatic glitches between India and Russia, especially over the delay and price hike of several Russian weapons to be delivered to India,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041761781200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421021724/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041761781200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2008|title=Centre admits to problems in naval deals|access-date=11 December 2008|last=Dikshit|first=Sandeep|date=17 April 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> relations between the two remain strong with India and Russia signing various agreements to increase defence, nuclear energy and space co-operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=339943 |title=India, Russia sign agreements to further strengthen ties |access-date=11 December 2008 |last=Roychowdhury |first=Amitabh |date=6 December 2006 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411192950/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=339943 |archive-date=11 April 2009 }}</ref>

India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. The results of the election were announced on 16 May 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gf53l7BbUSc4DUHCgzjLF4YfW9CgD987BC100|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206033206/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gf53l7BbUSc4DUHCgzjLF4YfW9CgD987BC100|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2012|title=India's ruling party wins resounding victory|agency=Associated Press|date=16 May 2009|access-date=16 May 2009}}</ref>

Strong showing in [[Andhra Pradesh]], Rajasthan, [[Maharashtra]], Tamil Nadu, [[Kerala]], West Bengal and [[Uttar Pradesh]] helped the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) form the new government under the incumbent Singh, who became the first prime minister since [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] in [[1962 Indian general election|1962]] to win re-election after completing a full five-year term.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/second-upa-wincrowning-glory-for-sonia%5Cs-ascendancy/61892/on|title=Second UPA win, a crowning glory for Sonia's ascendancy|date=16 May 2009|work=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=13 June 2009}}</ref> The Congress and its allies were able to put together a comfortable majority with support from 322 members out of 543 members of the House. These included those of the UPA and the external support from the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP), [[Samajwadi Party]] (SP), [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (JD(S)), [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] (RJD) and other minor parties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/smooth-sailing-for-upa-parties-scramble-to-support/92967-37.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521022032/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/smooth-sailing-for-upa-parties-scramble-to-support/92967-37.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2009|title=Smooth sailing for UPA, parties scramble to support|date=19 May 2009|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|access-date=13 June 2009}}</ref>

On 22 May 2009, Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the Prime Minister during a ceremony held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/Team-manmohan-set-to-form-govt-today/articleshow/4317510.cms|title=Team Manmohan set to form govt today|date=22 May 2009|publisher=[[Times Now]]|access-date=13 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527164431/http://www.timesnow.tv/Team-manmohan-set-to-form-govt-today/articleshow/4317510.cms|archive-date=27 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSDEL00004820090522|title=India PM Singh takes oath for second term|date=22 May 2009|work=Reuters|access-date=13 June 2009}}</ref> The [[2009 Indian general election]] was the largest democratic election in the world held prior to 2014 (834 million) and 2019 (912 million), with an eligible electorate of 714 million.

The 2012 report filed by the CAG in Parliament of India states that due to the allocation of coal blocks to certain private companies without bidding process the nation suffered an estimated loss of Rs 1.85&nbsp;trillion ([[Long and short scales|short scale]]) between 2005 and 2009 in which Manmohan Singh was the coal minister of India.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.oneindia.in/2012/08/17/coalgate-scam-pm-manmohan-singh-asked-to-resign-bjp-1055354.html | title=Coalgate scam: PM Manmohan Singh asked to resign | date=18 August 2012 | access-date=11 April 2013 | author=Nairita}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-08-19/news/33272942_1_coal-scam-2g-telecom-minister | title=Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly responsible for coal scam: Arun Jaitley | work=The Economic Times | date=19 August 2012 | agency=PTI | access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>

Manmohan Singh declined to appear before a [[Joint parliamentary committee|Joint Parliamentary Committee]] (JPC) in April 2013 when called upon by one of the members of JPC [[Yashwant Sinha]] for his alleged involvement in the 2G case.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1820446/report-2g-scam-disappointed-over-manmohan-singh-s-refusal-to-appear-before-jpc-says-yashwant-sinha | title=2G scam: Disappointed over Manmohan Singh's refusal to appear before JPC, says Yashwant Sinha | work=DNA India | date=9 April 2013 | agency=ANI | access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>

Singh's premiership officially ended at noon on 17 May 2014. He did not contest the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]] for the 16th Lok Sabha as the prime ministeral candidate. Singh resigned his post as prime minister, after the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance won the 2014 Lok Sabha election. He served as the acting prime minister till 25 May 2014, when [[Narendra Modi]] was sworn in as the new prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Deepshikha |title=Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Resigns After 10 Years in Office |url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/prime-minister-manmohan-singh-resigns-after-10-years-in-office-562442 |access-date=18 June 2023 |work=NDTV |date=17 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Manmohan Singh to continue as PM till Modi assumes office |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/highlights/story/manmohan-singh-resigns-as-prime-minister-193309-2014-05-17 |access-date=18 June 2023 |magazine=India Today |date=17 May 2014}}</ref> Singh along with Congress president [[Sonia Gandhi]], former Presidents [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] and [[Pratibha Patil]], Vice President [[Hamid Ansari]] attended Narendra Modi's [[First swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi|swearing-in ceremony]]. After the swearing-in ceremony Singh shifted to 3 Motilal Nehru Road, New Delhi. In 2016 it was announced that Singh was to take up a position at [[Panjab University]] as the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair, which he eventually never did.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asian-voice.com/News/India/North/Former-PM-Manmohan-Singh-returns-to-teaching|title=Former PM Manmohan Singh returns to teaching |publisher=Asian Voice |date=13 April 2016 |access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref>

''[[The Independent]]'' described Singh as "one of the world's most revered leaders" and "a man of uncommon decency and grace", noting that he drives a [[Maruti 800]], one of the humblest cars in the Indian market. [[Khushwant Singh]] lauded Singh as the best prime minister India has had, even rating him higher than [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. He mentions an incident in his book ''Absolute Khushwant: The Low-Down on Life, Death and Most things In-between'' where after losing the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Singh immediately returned the {{INRConvert|2|l}} he had borrowed from the writer for hiring taxis. Terming him as the best example of integrity, Khushwant Singh stated, "When people talk of integrity, I say the best example is the man who occupies the country's highest office."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Manmohan-Singh-is-the-best-example-of-integrity-Khushwant-Singh/articleshow/6325672.cms |title=PM Manmohan Singh: PM Manmohan Singh is the best example of integrity: Khushwant Singh |work=The Times of India |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Newsweek|''Newsweek'' magazine]] recognised him as a world leader who is respected by other heads of state, describing him as "the leader other leaders love." The article quoted [[Mohamed ElBaradei]], who remarked that Singh is "the model of what a political leader should be."<ref>{{cite web|author=Christopher Dickey|url=http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/2010/08/16/go-to-the-head-of-the-class.html |title=Go to the Head of the Class |work=Newsweek |date=16 August 2010 |access-date=15 February 2011}}</ref> Singh also received the World Statesman Award in 2010. [[Henry Kissinger]] described Singh as "a statesman with vision, persistence and integrity", and praised him for his "leadership, which has been instrumental in the economic transformation underway in India."<ref name=worldstatesmanaward>{{cite news|last=PTI |title=Manmohan Singh honoured with 2010 World Statesman Award |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Americas/Manmohan-Singh-honoured-with-2010-World-Statesman-Award/Article1-603591.aspx |access-date=27 March 2012 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=23 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509014458/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Americas/Manmohan-Singh-honoured-with-2010-World-Statesman-Award/Article1-603591.aspx |archive-date=9 May 2013 }}</ref>

Manmohan Singh was ranked 18 on the 2010 [[Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh | work=Forbes | title= The World's Most Powerful People: Manmohan Singh| date=3 November 2010}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine described Singh as being "universally praised as India's best prime minister since Nehru".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/sonia-gandhi | work=Forbes | title= The World's Most Powerful People: Sonia Gandhi| date=3 November 2010}}</ref> Australian journalist [[Greg Sheridan]] praised Singh "as one of the greatest statesmen in Asian history."<ref name="TA">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25513283-7583,00.html|title=Strengthen Team India|work=The Australian|date=21 May 2009|access-date=17 March 2011}}</ref> Singh was later ranked 19 and 28 in 2012 and 2013 in the Forbes list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/manmohan-singh/|title=Manmohan Singh|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2013/10/31/sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-slip-in-forbes-most-powerful-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103061614/http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2013/10/31/sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-slip-in-forbes-most-powerful-list/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2013|title=Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh slip in Forbes' most powerful list|first=Tony|last=Tharakan|access-date=16 November 2016|date=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/these-are-the-worlds-most-powerful-people-14299#photo-185869|title=These are the world's most powerful people, Photo Gallery|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>

| date=8 July 2012 }}</ref> It stated that Singh appears "unwilling to stick his neck out" on reforms that will put the country back onto a growth path. Congress spokesperson [[Manish Tewari]] rebutted the charges. UPA ally [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] took issue with the magazine's statements. Praising the government, Prasad said UPA projects [were] doing well and asked, "What will America say as their own economy is shattered?".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cong-counters-time-magazines-underachiever-remark-against-pm/971792/ | title= Cong counters Time magazine's 'underachiever' remark against PM| date= 8 July 2012}}</ref>

Political opponents, including BJP co-founder [[L. K. Advani]], have claimed that Singh is a "weak" prime minister. Advani declared "He is weak. What do I call a person who can't take his decisions until [[10 Janpath]] gives instruction."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/manmohan-singh-lk-advani-jan-chetna-yatra/1/157000.html |title=Manmohan Singh is a weak PM, reiterates Advani : East News – India Today |access-date=17 May 2012}}. Indiatoday.intoday.in (21 October 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_manmohan-singh-weak-pm-unbecoming-of-the-coveted-post-bjp_1640518 |title=Manmohan Singh weak PM, unbecoming of the coveted post: BJP – India – DNA |access-date=17 May 2012}}. Dnaindia.com (21 January 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/dangerous-to-have-a-weak-pm-anna_746121.html |title=Dangerous to have a weak PM: Anna |access-date=17 May 2012}}. Zeenews.India.com (9 December 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.</ref> In 2013, BJP leader [[Narendra Modi]] had termed Singh as "night watchman" and a "puppet of the Gandhi family".<ref name="NDTV.com">{{cite news |last=Das |first=Mala |date=22 February 2019 |title=Narendra Modi targets Gandhis, calls Manmohan Singh 'night watchman' |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-targets-gandhis-calls-manmohan-singh-night-watchman-514997 |work=NDTV |access-date=16 August 2023}}</ref>

In the recent years, political opponents have praised Singh. [[Arvind Kejriwal]] in 2018 said the people are "missing an educated PM like Dr Manmohan Singh".<ref name="NDTV.com2">{{cite news |last1=Sethi |first1=Nidhi |title="Missing 'Educated Prime Minister' Like Manmohan Singh": Arvind Kejriwal |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/missing-educated-prime-minister-like-manmohan-singh-arvind-kejriwal-1860549 |access-date=16 August 2023 |work=NDTV |date=31 May 2018}}</ref> In 2022, [[Nitin Gadkari]] said the "country is indebted to Manmohan Singh for the liberalisation that gave a new direction".<ref name="NDTV.com3">{{cite news |title="Country Is Indebted To Him": Nitin Gadkari's Praise For Manmohan Singh |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitin-gadkaris-praise-for-manmohan-singh-country-is-indebted-to-him-3502152 |access-date=16 August 2023 |work=NDTV |agency=PTI |date=8 November 2022}}</ref>

== Degrees and posts held ==

* [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A]] (Honours) in [[Economics]] 1952; [[Master of Arts|M.A]] ([[Academic grading in India|First Class]]) in Economics, 1954 [[Panjab University, Chandigarh]] (then in [[Hoshiarpur]], Punjab), India<!-- not Punjab, see discussion but hoshiarpur is always in Punjab and was in Punjab even at that time -->

* Honours degree in Economics, [[University of Cambridge]] – [[St John's College, Cambridge|St John's College]] (1957)

* [[Doctor of Philosophy|DPhil]] in Economics, [[University of Oxford]] – [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield College]] (1962)

* [[Delhi School of Economics]], [[University of Delhi]]

** Honorary Professor (1966)

* Chief, Financing for Trade Section, UNCTAD, United Nations Secretariat, New York

* Economic Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Trade, India (1971–1972)

*[[Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India|Chief Economic Adviser]], [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]], India, (1972–1976)

* Honorary Professor, [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]], New Delhi (1976)

* Director, [[Reserve Bank of India]] (1976–1980)

* Director, [[Industrial Development Bank of India]] (1976–1980)

* Board of Governors, [[Asian Development Bank]], Manila

*[[Economic Affairs Secretary|Secretary]], Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs), [[Government of India]], (1977–1980)

* [[Governor of Reserve Bank of India|Governor]], Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985)

* Deputy chairman, [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission of India]], (1985–1987)

* Secretary General, South Commission, Geneva (1987–1990)

* Advisor to [[Prime Minister of India]] on Economic Affairs (1990–1991)

* Chairman, [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] (15 March 1991 – 20 June 1991)<ref name="dr mms" />

* [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister of India]], (21 June 1991 – 15 May 1996)

*[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] (1 October 1991 – 14 June 2019)

* [[Leader of the Opposition (India)]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] (1998–2004)

* [[Prime Minister of India]] (22 May 2004&nbsp;– 26 May 2014)

*[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] (19 August 2019 – Present)

A Bollywood film was made in 2019 based on Singh's life, titled ''[[The Accidental Prime Minister (film)|The Accidental Prime Minister]]'' directed by [[Vijay Gutte]] and written by Mayank Tewari.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 June 2017|title=The Accidental Prime Minister first look: Anupam Kher 'overwhelmed' with response, writes personal thanks|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/anupam-kher-the-accidental-prime-minister-twitter-reaction-on-first-look-4694874/|access-date=19 March 2021|work=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The film was based on the 2014 memoir of the [[The Accidental Prime Minister|same name]] by [[Sanjaya Baru]] with [[Anupam Kher]] in the titular role.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghosh|first=Stutee|date=11 January 2019|title='The Accidental Prime Minister' Has More Than One Accidental Hero|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/the-accidental-prime-minister-review|access-date=19 March 2021|work=The Quint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Thakur|first=Tanul|date=11 January 2019|title=Movie Review: The Accidental Prime Minister Is Made to Confirm Your Bias|url=https://thewire.in/film/the-accidental-prime-minister-movie-review|access-date=19 March 2021|work=The Wire}}</ref>

{{Lang|hi-latn|[[Pradhanmantri]]}} ({{Literal translation|Prime Minister}}), a 2013 Indian documentary television series which aired on [[ABP News]] and covers the various policies and political tenures of Indian PMs, includes the tenureship of Manmohan Singh in the episodes "Story of Sonia Gandhi and UPA-I Government", and "Scams in UPA government and anti-corruption movement".<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 December 2013|title=Pradhanmantri: Even after winning polls, Sonia did not become PM in 2004|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOGp0bvwuQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/_IOGp0bvwuQ| archive-date=27 October 2021|publisher=ABP News}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

* [http://archivepmo.nic.in/drmanmohansingh/ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh] ''Prime Ministers Office, Archived''

* [http://archivepmo.nic.in/drmanmohansingh/pmsprofile.php Profile and CV of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh] ''Prime Ministers Office, Archived''

* [http://archivepmo.nic.in/drmanmohansingh/pmsteam.php Cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh] ''Prime Ministers Office, Archived''

*{{C-SPAN|1011784}}

*{{IMDb name|id=5377693}}

[[Category:Fellows of Nuffield College, Oxford]]

[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]

[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Academic staff of Panjab University]]

[[Category:Academic staff of Delhi University]]

[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha]]

[[Category:Punjabi people]]

[[Category:Punjabi politicians]]

[[Category:Prime Ministers of India]]

[[Category:People from Amritsar]]

[[Category:Chief Economic Advisers to the Government of India]]