Narendra Modi paid tribute to the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary and recalled his long career in public life and contribution to the country.
In a post on social media, Modi said that Dr Manmohan Singh had been in public life for years and worked hard and served the nation with dedication. It’s the birthday of the former Congress leader and economist who served as PM Manmohan Singh (2014) and the Prime Minister's message came on the anniversary of the Congress leader and economist who served as the Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014.
Dr Manmohan Singh remains one of the most influential figures in Indian political and economic history. The economist by training who served in government and public institutions before becoming Prime Minister of India. He served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Finance Secretary, Planning Commission member and Finance Minister before he took on the country’s top executive role.
As Finance Minister in the early 1990s, Singh had a crucial role in the economic reform that was undertaken by the government under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. In this period, major changes to India's economic policy were made and a move towards a liberalised economic policy were made.
Singh became Prime Minister in 2004 after the United Progressive Alliance formed the government at the Centre. He served for two terms and governed the country during a period of economic growth, major policy initiatives and major domestic and international developments.
As Prime Minister, his government introduced or enacted a number of major programmes/legislation. These included the Right to Information Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the National Food Security Act, among others. In addition, his government made closer economic and strategic relations with a number of countries.
One of the most interesting developments in Singh’s first term was the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, which generated much political debate in India. His government also had to contend with challenges like the global financial crisis of 2008, which his government faced, and there was a lot of political debate over the years, but India continued to grow economically during his prime ministerial term.
Singh was known for his academic background and relatively low-key public persona. Prior to becoming active in politics, he held senior positions in academia and government and had worked with international institutions. He was well-known for his economics background, and his public profile was very strong.
Modi's tribute comes as political leaders and public figures remember Singh's contribution to public life. Modi and Singh were political foes in their time in government, but Modi had also publicly acknowledged Singh's role and contributions on several occasions.
Singh died in December 2024 at the age of 92. Leaders of all political organisations paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, recalling the various aspects of his long career in public service.
The birth anniversary message is a reminder of Singh’s long-standing relationship with India’s economic and political institutions. He had been an economist and policymaker and then Prime Minister in various stages of the post-Independence history of India.
Tributes to our former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. He spent many years in public life and served the nation with dedication.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 26, 2026
Modi’s message was about Singh’s long career in public service and dedication to national service. The tribute is in recognition of the former Prime Minister’s place in India’s political history even as we analyse his government’s policies and decisions.
As political leaders, institutions and citizens remember Dr Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary, his legacy with respect to his economic career and political career as an economist and policymaker and Prime Minister of India will continue to be discussed.
