The Government of India has announced a seven-day national mourning following the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. All government programmes scheduled for Friday have been cancelled.
The Union Cabinet is set to convene at 11 AM on Friday to discuss arrangements and pay tributes.
Dr Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours, reflecting his immense contribution to the nation as an economist, statesman, and leader.
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.
Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday, 26 December at the age of 92. AIIMS New Delhi confirmed his demise in a statement, citing age-related medical conditions.
He lost consciousness at home and was rushed to AIIMS, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
A renowned economist and statesman, Singh served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economic reforms.
Singh had retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. He previously held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004. Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22, 2004, and again on the same date in 2009.
With an exceptional academic background, Singh topped Punjab University in both BA and MA, pursued further studies at Cambridge, and earned a DPhil from Oxford.
He held several top posts even before entering politics, serving as RBI Governor from 1982 to 1985, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987, and later advisor to the Prime Minister on economic affairs during the tenure of Chandra Shekar.
Singh's political career began in 1991 when he entered the Rajya Sabha. Just four months later, he was appointed Union Finance Minister under the PV Narasimha Rao government in June, marking the start of a transformative phase in India’s economy.