Manmohan Singh (born 1932)

 Manmohan Singh is a prominent Indian 

 economist, academician, and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab, British India. Singh is a renowned economist who has made significant contributions to the field of economics, both in India and internationally. He has served in various positions in the Indian government, including as the Finance Minister and Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Early Life and Education:

Manmohan Singh was born in a small village in the Punjab province of undivided India, now part of Pakistan. His family was one of the few in the village that could afford to send their children to school. Singh completed his undergraduate studies at Punjab University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. He later earned his master's degree in economics from the University of Cambridge in the UK, and a DPhil in economics from Nuffield College, Oxford.

Career in Academics:

After completing his studies, Singh started his academic career as a lecturer at Punjab University in 1957. He later moved to the University of Delhi, where he became a professor of international trade. In 1966, he went to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he served as a senior economic adviser. He returned to India in 1969 and joined the Delhi School of Economics as a professor of international trade.

Singh is a prolific author and has written numerous books and academic papers on economic policy, international trade, and development. Some of his notable works include "India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth," "Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy," and "The Role of the State in Economic Development." Singh has also served on the editorial boards of several academic journals.

Career in Government:

Singh's first stint in government was in 1971 when he was appointed as the Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. He later served as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India from 1972 to 1976. In 1982, Singh was appointed as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), where he served until 1985. During his tenure at the RBI, Singh implemented several measures to stabilize the Indian economy, including reducing the fiscal deficit and devaluing the rupee.

In 1991, Singh was appointed as the Finance Minister of India by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. India was facing a severe economic crisis at the time, with high inflation, a balance of payments crisis, and a looming debt crisis. Singh's tenure as Finance Minister was marked by a series of economic reforms that helped to liberalize the Indian economy and attract foreign investment. Some of the notable reforms included reducing import tariffs, deregulating industry, and allowing foreign investment in several sectors. These reforms helped to revive the Indian economy and set the stage for India's rapid economic growth in the following years.

In 2004, Singh was appointed as the Prime Minister of India, following the Congress party's victory in the general elections. Singh's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by several significant policy initiatives, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which aimed to provide employment opportunities to rural households, and the Right to Information Act, which aimed to promote transparency and accountability in government. Singh also initiated several measures to improve India's relations with its neighbors, including Pakistan and China.

Personal Life and Legacy:

Singh is married to Gursharan Kaur, and the couple has three daughters. Singh is known for his simple and unassuming lifestyle and is widely respected for his integrity and honesty. He has received numerous honors.