Introduction 

"Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on 26^th December, 2024, at the age of 92, was not just India's Prime Minister but a transformative leader who shaped modern India's economic destiny. Born in 1932 in Gah (now in Pakistan), he rose from humble beginnings to become a brilliant economist with degrees from Cambridge and Oxford. His journey from an academic to India's Finance Minister and eventually Prime Minister for two terms (2004-2014) reflects a life dedicated to public service and nation-building. Known as the architect of India's economic liberalization, his 1991 reforms as Finance Minister marked a turning point in India's economic history." 

What are the Milestones in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Early Life, Career, and Prime Ministerial Tenure? 

• Early Life and Education: 
  • Born on 26^th September, 1932, in Gah Village, Punjab, into a Sikh family, he completed his early education in Urdu medium before partition. 
  • After moving to Amritsar post-partition, he studied at Hindu College and Punjab University, later earning a triplos in Economics from St. Johns College, Cambridge. 
  • He completed his Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University in 1962, establishing his strong academic foundation. 
• Academic and Early Career: 
  • Started his career as a Senior Lecturer at Punjab University (1957-1959) and later became a Reader in Economics. 
  • Worked with UNCTAD (1966-1969) to promote equitable growth for developing nations. 
  • Served as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade while simultaneously working as a Professor at Delhi University. 
  • Government Roles Pre-Prime Ministership: 
  • Served as Chief Economic Advisor (1972) and later as Finance Ministry Secretary (1976). 
  • Appointed as RBI Governor (1982-1985) and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission (1985-1987). 
  • Became Finance Minister in 1991 under P.V. Narasimha Rao's government, implementing historic economic reforms. 
• Economic Reforms as Finance Minister: 
  • Led India through its worst economic crisis in 1991 by implementing liberalization policies. 
  • Dismantled the License Raj, reduced import taxes, devalued the rupee, and opened up the economy. 
  • Raised FDI caps from 40% to 51% and abolished industrial licensing for most sectors. 
  • Transformed India's growth rate from 3% to 8-9% through these reforms. 
• Prime Ministerial Terms (2004-2014): 
  • Became India's 13th Prime Minister in 2004 as UPA's choice, serving two consecutive terms until 2014. 
  • Achieved 9% economic growth rate in 2007, making India the second-fastest growing economy. 
  • Implemented major welfare schemes like MGNREGA guaranteeing 100 days of rural employment. 
• Legislative Achievements as PM: 
  • Introduced the Right to Education Act (2009) making education a fundamental right. 
  • Passed the Right to Information Act (2005) promoting government transparency. 
  • Established the National Investigation Agency (2008) after Mumbai attacks. 
  • Launched the National Rural Health Mission (2005) for rural healthcare access. 
  • Initiated the UIDAI (Aadhaar) project for biometric-based identification. 
• Foreign Policy Achievements: 
  • Successfully negotiated the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal in 2008. 
  • Strengthened bilateral trade with China and reopened the Nathula Pass. 
  • Enhanced relationships with Japan, Israel, European nations, and African countries. 
• Legacy: 
  • Recognized as the architect of India's economic liberalization. 
  • Served as the third-longest serving Prime Minister after Nehru and Indira Gandhi. 
  • Maintained a reputation for personal integrity and economic expertise throughout his career. 
  • Passed away on December 26, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of economic reforms and inclusive growth policies. 
• Political Career: 
  • Served five consecutive terms as Rajya Sabha member from Assam (1991-2013). 
  • Acted as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004. 
  • Led two UPA governments (2004-2014) implementing significant social welfare programs and economic reforms. 

What was the LPG Reform? 

• Liberalization: 
  • Dismantled the complex License Raj system that restricted business activities through permits and controls. 
  • Reduced import tariffs and devalued the rupee to boost exports and promote trade liberalization. 
  • Eased licensing norms and removed barriers to international trade and investment. 
• Privatization: 
  • Initiated privatization of state-owned enterprises to improve efficiency and promote competition. 
  • Reduced government control over public sector companies and encouraged private sector participation. 
  • Raised the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap from 40% to 51% to attract international investors. 
• Globalization: 
  • Opened up the Indian economy to global markets and international competition for the first time since independence. 
  • Created frameworks for foreign investment, both from international corporations and Indian companies operating abroad. 
  • Transformed India from a protectionist economy to one integrated with global markets. 
• Impact: 
  • Successfully addressed the 1991 financial crisis when India was on the brink of default. 
  • Led to significant GDP growth, with India becoming one of the fastest-growing economies. 
  • Attracted substantial foreign investment and helped develop a flourishing Indian stock market. 
  • Laid the foundation for India's emergence as a major global economic player.

What Are the Major Legislative Acts Passed During the Tenure of the UPA Government? 

• Right to Information Act, 2005 - A landmark legislation promoting transparency and accountability in governance 
  • The RTI Act empowered citizens to demand information from government bodies, marking a significant step toward transparency in governance. 
  • This legislation created a framework for accountability in public administration and became a powerful tool for fighting corruption. 
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005
  • MGNREGA guaranteed 100 days of paid work annually to rural households, creating a social safety net for millions of India's poorest citizens. 
  • The program specifically targeted rural unemployment and poverty, empowering underprivileged communities through guaranteed wage employment for unskilled labor. 
• Right to Education Act, 2009  
  • Making free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children aged 6-14 years. 
  • Building on the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, this legislation created a legal framework to ensure universal access to education, particularly benefiting disadvantaged communities. 
• Food Security Act, 2013 - Providing subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India's population 
  • This legislation made food security a legal right, ensuring access to subsidized food grains for millions of poor Indians. 
  • The act unified various food security programs under one framework, creating a comprehensive approach to addressing hunger and malnutrition. 
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 - Strengthening laws against sexual offenses following the 2012 Delhi gang rape case 
• Companies Act, 2013 - Replacing the Companies Act 1956 to modernize corporate regulations 
• Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 - Providing fair compensation for land acquisition 
  • The act replaced colonial-era legislation with a modern framework ensuring fair compensation for land acquisition and transparent processes. 
  • It introduced comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement provisions for those affected by land acquisition for public purposes. 
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 - Protecting women from domestic abuse 
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act (Amendment), 2012 - Strengthening anti-money laundering provisions 
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 - Protecting minors from sexual abuse 
• Lok Pal and Lok Ayuktas Act, 2013 - Establishing anti-corruption ombudsman 

Notable Amendments: 

• Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 - Giving equal inheritance rights to daughters 
• Forest Rights Act, 2006 - Recognizing forest-dwelling communities' rights 
• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006 
• Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008 

How did PM Manmohan Singh's Efforts Influence the Debate on the Death Penalty in India? 

• The PUDR (People’s Union for Democratic Rights) wrote to PM Manmohan Singh welcoming his government's efforts to seek commutation of death sentence for Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan, hoping this would lead to questioning the relevance of death penalty in India. 
• The organization urged the UPA government to not only accept the President's recommendations on the 20 pending mercy petitions but also to move towards abolishing the death penalty completely. 
• PUDR argued that the death penalty was operating in a flawed criminal justice system, citing cases like Prof. SAR Geelani and others where death sentences were later overturned, raising concerns about potential wrongful executions. 
• The letter states that the death penalty was discriminatory, particularly affecting the poorest who couldn't afford quality legal representation, citing examples like the Mohan and Gopi case where the accused were executed without having legal representation during their trial. 

Conclusion 

"Dr. Singh's legacy extends far beyond his economic reforms - he was known as 'Mr. Clean' for his personal integrity and led India through significant transformations including the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. Despite facing criticism during his tenure as Prime Minister, his prediction that 'history would be kinder' to him has proven true. His passing marks the end of an era that saw India emerge as a global economic power, leaving behind a legacy of inclusive growth, economic reforms, and diplomatic achievements. As Prime Minister Modi noted, whenever Indian democracy is mentioned, Dr. Singh's contributions will always be remembered."