Manmohan Singh retires from Rajya Sabha: A look at ex-PM's 33-year-long journey in 5 statements
Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha on April 3 after serving 33 years in the Indian Parliament. Singh, 91, is credited for opening the Indian economy to global competition and regarded as architect of India’s economic liberalisation as Finance Minister in 1991. Later, Singh went on to become Prime Minister serving two terms between 2004 and 2014.
Singh has not been keeping well for quite some time and has stayed away from public appearances. His only public appearance in 2024 was at the book launch of his daughter at the India International Centre (IIC) in January. The two UPA regimes led by Manmohan Singh are credited with the launch of social welfare initiatives such as guaranteed job schemes -Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) - and right to education for every child.
Reforms including Direct Benefit Transfer and national identity number Aadhaar were also launched during Manmohan Singh’s term as PM. Also Read: 'An era comes to an end’ Mallikarjun Kharge writes as Manmohan Singh retires from Rajya Sabha. Full letter here Yet his last years in office were marred with corruption scandals and inflation, with many in the opposition calling him a ‘weak’ PM.
In 2014, Congress-led UPA government under PM Manmohan Singh was defeated, paving way for Narendra Modi to become Prime Minister of the Bhartiya Janata Party-led-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dispensation. PM Modi is seeking a record third term in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, beginning April 19. Singh never won Lok Sabha elections.
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