India’s former prime minister, Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the US, has died aged 92.
Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home”, the hospital said in a statement, adding that he was “being treated for age-related medical conditions”.
A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers, in post for 10 years. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of the assassinated prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
He earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity, but his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption.
Singh was elected to a second term as prime minister from 2009-2014 that was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister.