Former PM Manmohan Singh Passes Away At 92, Will Be Honoured With State Funeral

Former PM Manmohan Singh died of age-related medical conditions on December 27, the AIIMS in Delhi, where he was admitted, said in a statement. He was 92.

“With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024,” AIIMS said in a statement.

“Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm,” the statement added.

Singh was PM for two terms in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014. He had been in poor health for the last few months. The former PM is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters.

A seven-day state mourning will be observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to former PM Singh. All programs of the Congress party, including the Foundation Day celebrations, have also been cancelled for the next seven days as a mark of respect, party General Secretary KC Venugopal said.

Singh served as the Finance Minister during PM PV Narasimha Rao’s tenure. He was the key architect behind the 1991 economic reforms that steered India away from the brink of bankruptcy. These reforms marked the beginning of a new era of economic liberalisation, which is widely credited with transforming India’s economic trajectory.

The last rites of former PM Singh will be held on December 28. In a notice issued to all chief secretaries of states and union territories, the Union Home Ministry confirmed that Singh would be given a state funeral.