Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, has passed away at the age of 92, according to a statement from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The hospital reported that he lost consciousness at his residence on Thursday and was subsequently transported to AIIMS in New Delhi.
AIIMS indicated that Singh was receiving treatment for age-related medical conditions and experienced a sudden loss of consciousness on December 26, 2024.
The hospital stated, “Resuscitative measures were initiated immediately at home. He was admitted to the Medical Emergency unit at AIIMS.” However, despite the medical interventions, he was declared deceased at 9:51 p.m. local time (11:21 a.m. ET).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the nation's grief over Singh’s demise, recognizing him as one of India's “most distinguished leaders.” Modi communicated via social media platform X on Thursday, stating, “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”
Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister for two separate terms. Following an unexpected electoral victory in 2004, Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi opted to relinquish the position of Prime Minister, instead appointing Singh, who was already well-regarded for his pivotal role in implementing significant economic reforms during the early 1990s as Finance Minister.
Under his administration, several welfare initiatives were introduced, including a jobs program targeting rural poverty. Notably, in 2008, Singh negotiated a landmark agreement that facilitated peaceful trade in nuclear energy with the United States, marking a significant development after three decades. Furthermore, he was honored as the guest at then-President Barack Obama’s inaugural state dinner in 2009.
By the conclusion of his second term, Singh's accomplishments were increasingly overshadowed by high-profile corruption allegations involving members of his administration. Although Singh was never personally accused of corruption, the controversies adversely affected his public image.
In the months leading up to his death, Singh articulated at a press conference that he had exerted his utmost effort in the role of Prime Minister. He stated, “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or, for that matter, the opposition parties in Parliament,” according to Reuters. Manmohan Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters, as reported by Reuters.