Govt announces 7-day mourning after former PM Manmohan Singh's demise

As a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Government of India has announced a seven day of state mourning throughout India from December 26, 2024, to January 1, 2025, both days inclusive.

During this period the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.

It has also been decided that the state funeral will be accorded to late Manmohan Singh.

Singh has often been called the architect of India's economic liberalisation. During his tenure as the finance minister, Singh ended the Licence Raj in his 1991-92 Budget. He also played a key role in setting up the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and automating Indian markets to benchmark them with the best in the world.

"Setting up of @nseindia was a part of the reforms undertaken by Dr Manmohan Singh as the finance minister as the first public digital infrastructure of India," NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan says in a post on X.

Commenting on the demise of Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”

“Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” Modi wrote in a post on X.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also paid tributes. “Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is no more. He had served as the Governor of RBI and as Finance Minister of India. Presented the milestone budget of 1991 which liberalised the Indian economy. Respected by all, he was soft-spoken and gentle. Condolences to his family and friends,” Sitharaman writes in a post on X.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said he lost a mentor and guide. "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," Gandhi wrote on X.