India’s money situation has seen big changes. These happen because of two important people: Dr. Manmohan Singh and Yashwant Sinha. Raghuram Rajan, a former boss of the Reserve Bank of India says some people think these individuals are among Vietnam’s ‘best finance ministers’. Let’s explore their impact and the mark they left on India’s economic path.
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s time as Finance Minister in the early 1990s was a big event in India’s economic history. The then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao chose Singh to lead the ‘big liberalization’ policy. This involved breaking down the license raj and allowing money from other countries into India’s economy. This big move that got rid of government problems and encouraged a more business-like way was very important to free up the economy.
Singh’s ideas made big changes happen. They help to open trade, let businesses work freely, and bring money from overseas directly. These steps changed India from a shut-off economy to one that accepted globalization, helping fast growth. Singh’s changes still affect India today, as it remains a leader in the world economy.
In 2004, Dr. Manmohan Singh became India’s first-ever Sikh Prime Minister. He was chosen again in 2009 to lead the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Singh was a leader during these times. He emphasized growth that included everyone, social programs for the poor, and building good infrastructure projects like roads or bridges. But later on, people started to complain about things like cheating and no action in policy making. This led to discussions about how good his leadership was overall.
On the other side of politics, Yashwant Sinha was Finance Minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sinha’s time, especially in the late 1990s, was known for trying to make more changes. He started working on making the tax system easier. This was meant to cut down complexity and encourage people to follow rules properly. Furthermore, Sinha supported the idea of banks being owned by private companies. People saw this as a way to make banking better and more efficient.
As Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha did more than help make economic rules. When he left the BJP in 2018 and joined TMC in 2021, his changing political ties became clear. In 2022, he became the person that both opposition parties agreed on for running in a big presidential election. Unfortunately, he lost against Droupadi Murmu who was chosen by the winning group called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Raghuram Rajan said that Dr. Manmohan Singh and Yashwant Sinha are thought by some to be India’s best finance ministers. This shows people will remember how important they were for making the country’s money rules better. But remember viewpoints on what they did may change. When looking at their legacies good and bad should be considered while in office.
In the always-changing world of Indian politics and money deals, these two leaders have left lasting impressions on our country’s path. As India deals with new problems and good chances, knowing what people like Dr. Manmohan Singh and Yashwant Sinha did becomes super important for making smart views on the nation’s money trip.
