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Dr. Manmohan Singh was elected as the 13th Prime Minister of India, a post he held for the second time.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led important initiatives for India’s development. (Image: PTI/File)
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died on Thursday, December 26, at the age of 92. He was cremated with full state honors on Saturday, in the presence of top dignitaries from India and abroad. A look at the enduring legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh, who marked a turning point in Indian history.
Major initiatives of Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister (2004–2014)
1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005)
One of the most important initiatives of Manmohan Singh was the launch of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in 2005. Through this, he aimed to provide 100 days of assured wage employment per year to rural families. This scheme helped in enhancing livelihood security and empowering the people.
2. Right to Information Act (2005)
To bring transparency and accountability to all, Singh enacted the Right to Information Act in 2005, during his first term, the second year of his decade-long leadership. This gave citizens the right to obtain information from public authorities, leading to greater openness in the overall system.
3. India-US nuclear deal (2005)
Manmohan Singh made a historic change by demonstrating his strategic vision with the nuclear deal with the US. The India-US nuclear deal was a historic step that gave India access to advanced nuclear technology and resources. Singh, who was confident about the future outcomes of the agreement, showed immense determination to push it through even when his government was at stake during the trust vote in Parliament.
4. Right to Education Act (2009)
In a significant step towards making education compulsory among children, his government enacted the Right to Education Act in 2009, declaring education as a fundamental right for every child aged 6 to 14 years. Under this Act, quality education has been made accessible to everyone. Children across the country.
5. Farm loan waiver (2008)
To address the agricultural crisis, Singh’s government launched a loan waiver scheme called Farm Loan Waiver in 2008. As a part of this, the government allocated Rs 71,000 crore, which largely benefited millions of farmers across India. The scheme was termed as one of the largest farm loan waivers.
6. Aadhaar (2010)
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government also launched another initiative with Aadhaar, which has now emerged as the largest biometric identification system, providing a unique ID to every citizen in India. He started this initiative in 2010 with the then Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
7. National Food Security Act (2013)
Another important initiative taken by his government was the introduction of the National Food Security Act in 2013. Its objective was to provide subsidized food grains to 2/3 of the Indian population to ensure food security for millions of people.
