New Delhi, September 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his birth anniversary, remembering his decades-long contribution to public service.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah in Punjab province of undivided India, Singh served as the country's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. He headed the United Progressive Alliance government for two successive terms.

Singh entered national prominence as Union Finance Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao government in 1991. During his tenure, he was closely associated with the economic reform programme launched that year, which brought major changes to India's economic framework and expanded the country's engagement with the global economy.

Over his career, Singh occupied several key positions in government and public institutions. He served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and held senior responsibilities in the Finance Ministry and Planning Commission before becoming Prime Minister.

His decade as Prime Minister saw the introduction and implementation of several significant laws and government programmes. These included the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act. His governments also pursued policies covering economic development, education, healthcare and social welfare.

Singh remained a member of the Rajya Sabha for several decades and continued his association with public affairs after leaving the Prime Minister's Office in 2014.

He passed away in New Delhi on December 26, 2024, aged 92.

Modi's tribute on Singh's birth anniversary comes as political leaders and public figures remember the former Prime Minister and economist for his long association with India's public life.