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Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh Quotes

Prime Minister of India

Manmohan Singh is an Indian politician who served as the Prime Minister of India twice. Born on September 26, 1932, he is an economist by training and a politician by profession. He served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, during which he promoted economic reforms in India and worked towards improving the welfare of the people.

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Famous Manmohan Singh Quotes

“When the world is breaking up into fragments, and fragments clash with fragments, surrendering all sense and purpose of living for the larger humanity, it is the humanity which seeks transcendence from narrow limits and boundaries.”

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I can assure you we are a responsible nuclear power.”

I Can Responsible Nuclear Nuclear Power Mixed Economy

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Nobody should be allowed to tinker with democracy. We will not discontinue the good works of the past government.”

Should Government Past Democracy Good Work

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Unity and secularism will be the motto of the government. We can't afford divisive polity in India.”

Government India Unity Motto Secularism

Author:Manmohan Singh

“If you have a rigidly controlled economy, cut off from the rest of the world by infinite protection, nobody has any incentive to increase productivity and to bring new ideas.”

Ifs World Ideas Economy Cutting Increase Infinite Protection Productivity Controlled New Ideas Incentives

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Protectionism is a very real danger. It is understandable that in times of a severe downturn protectionist pressures mount but the lessons of history are clear. If we give in to protectionist pressures, we will only send the world into a downward spiral.”

Ifs World Giving Real Clear Danger Lessons Pressure Severe Spirals Protectionism Downturn Downward Spiral

Author:Manmohan Singh

“The Chinese have certain advantages. The fact that it's a single party government. But I do believe in the long run the fact that India is a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. Our system is slow to move but I'm confident that once decisions are taken they are going to be far more durable.”

Believe Long Facts Government Running Moving Law Certain Decision Party Democracy Taken Advantage India Committed Chinese Long Runs Rule Of Law

Author:Manmohan Singh

“The Indian economy grew at 5.5 percent, but if you look at the last 30 years - for example, 1960 to 1985 - the progress made by East Asian countries was phenomenal. In a single generation they had been able to transform the character of their economy. They were able to get rid of chronic poverty.”

Ifs Years Looks Made Country Character Able Lasts Poverty Economy Progress Generations Example Grew Percent East Indian Asian 1960s Phenomenal Asian Countries

Author:Manmohan Singh

“We are a mixed economy. We will remain a mixed economy. The public and private sector will continue to play a very important role. The private sector in our country has very ample scope and I am confident that India's entrepreneurs have the capacity, and the will to rise to the occasion.”

Important Country Play Roles Economy Capacity India Entrepreneur Our Country Occasions Scope Private Sector Mixed Economy

Author:Manmohan Singh

“We got government off the backs of the people of India, particularly off the backs of India's entrepreneurs. We introduced more competition, both internal competition and external competition. We simplified and rationalized the tax system. We made risk-taking much more attractive.”

People Made Government Risk Taxes India Entrepreneur Competition Attractive Internals Risk-taking Tax System

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Yes, I think India's economy always has been a mixed economy, and by Western standards we are much more of a market economy than a public sector-driven economy.”

Thinking Has Beens Economy Standards India Western Driven Market Economy Public Sector Mixed Economy

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Jawaharlal Nehru wanted India to develop close ties with China and learn from its experience.”

Wanted India China Ties Nehru

Author:Manmohan Singh

“As the largest and most developed democracies of Asia (India and Japan), we have a mutual stake in each other's progress and prosperity.”

Democracy Progress India Prosperity Japan Mutual Stakes Asia

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I am not very good at statistics. I am also a poor thinker.”

Motivational Poor Very Good Statistics Thinker

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Sachin Tendulkar is a guy you don't want to chat to period, because he will knuckle down- Brett Lee tells you why one must never sledge Sachin Tendulkar It is an amazing achievement to play for the country for over two decades and still continue to be the team's anchor. Sachin makes all of us so very proud”

Want Stills Two Country Play Guy Team Proud Periods Achievement Decades Anchors Knuckles Tendulkar

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Those who create wealth should be shown the greatest respect.”

Author:Manmohan Singh

“The first and foremost priority is to finish the unfinished task which the founding fathers of India set out for us at the time of our independence: to get rid of chronic poverty, ignorance, and disease, which have afflicted millions and millions of our people.”

People Firsts Father Poverty Millions Ignorance Disease Tasks India Independence Priorities Founding Unfinished

Author:Manmohan Singh

“A politician before he can become a statesman has to remain in office long enough.”

Long Enough Politician Office Statesmen

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I do believe that India needs a lot more foreign direct investment than we've got, and we should have the ambition to move in the same league many other countries in our neighborhood are moving. We may not be able to reach where the Chinese are today, but there is no reason why we should not think big about the role of foreign direct investment, particularly in the areas relating to infrastructure, where our needs for investment are very large. We need new initiatives, management skills, and I do believe that direct foreign investment can play a very important role.”

“So outside agriculture, in manufacturing and services, we must create a lot more jobs. But that also means that we must ensure that our systems of general education and technical education are in line with the job requirements that a more modern manufacturing and a more modern services sector would require.”

Mean Jobs Lines Modern Agriculture Requirements Manufacturing General Education Technical Education

Author:Manmohan Singh

“We have to walk on two legs. We have to create conditions in which manufacturing and services - the economy outside agriculture - move and move fast enough. And at the same time the working force that is available must have skills which will fit the kind of jobs which will be in demand.”

Kind Two Enough Jobs Moving Force Walks Economy Conditions Fit Skills Demand Available Legs Agriculture Manufacturing

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Agribusiness and food processing are important parts of modernizing our economy, of modernizing our agriculture and moving into a phase where a more modernized agriculture helps not only farmers but also helps consumers.”

Important Helping Moving Economy Consumers Farmers Phases Agriculture Processing Agribusiness

Author:Manmohan Singh

“What India needs most is a unified food law.”

Needs Law India Unified

Author:Manmohan Singh

“The premature migration of very large numbers of people from rural areas to urban areas can give rise to a lot of strains to the urban infrastructure, which can also create problems of crime - law-and-order problems.”

People Giving Problem Law Order Numbers Crime Areas Urban Strain Infrastructure Large Numbers Migration Law And Order Premature Rural Areas Urban Areas

Author:Manmohan Singh

“[Urbanization] is the inevitable outcome of the processes of growth and the processes of modernization.”

Process Growth Inevitable Outcomes Modernization Urbanization

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I do recognize that India has to be the center, the hub of activity as far as the knowledge economy is concerned.”

Economy Activity Concerned India Hub

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Economic policy and decision making do not function in a political vacuum.”

Political Decision Economic Policy Function Decision Making Vacuums Economic Policy

Author:Manmohan Singh

“In a world in which technology is changing at such a fast pace, where demand conditions change very fast, we need to look at a more innovative mechanism to cut down on this rigmarole of many tiers of decision-making processes.”

World Needs Looks Process Decision Technology Cutting Conditions Demand Decision Making Pace Mechanism Innovative Decision Making Process

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Globalization offers us enormous opportunities in the race to leapfrog in development processes. It also obliges us to set in motion processes which would minimize its risks.”

Opportunity Process Race Risk Development Offers Enormous Globalization

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I think, overall, India is today on the move. The economic reforms that our salvation lies in - operating an open society, political system, an open economy, economic system - this has widespread support.”

Thinking Today Moving Political Lying Support Economy Economic India Salvation Reform Political Systems Economic Systems Economic Reforms

Author:Manmohan Singh

“India's future lies in being an open society, an open polity, a functioning democracy respecting all fundamental human freedoms, accepting the rule of law and, at the same time, to emerge as a successful, internationally competitive market economy.”

Humans Law Lying Accepting Economy Democracy Successful India Fundamentals Rule Of Law Market Economy Human Freedom

Author:Manmohan Singh

“China's influence is bound to rise.”

Influence Bounds China

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I believe that without looking at each other as rivals or as competitors, in a democratic India, operating in the framework of an open economy, an open society has, I think, some significance for developing countries, not only in Asia but outside Asia.”

Thinking Believe Country I Believe Economy India Democratic Developing Significance Asia Competitors Rivals Framework Developing Countries

Author:Manmohan Singh

“There are partnerships based on principle. There are partnerships based on pragmatism. And fortunately, when it comes to Indo-American relations, both concentrations find a new robust phase of relationship, a multi-fasted relationship which I believe exists in the interests of both our countries.”

Believe Country I Believe Interest Principles Relation Our Country Concentration Partnership Phases Robust Pragmatism

Author:Manmohan Singh

“A new India which realizes its destiny in the framework of an open society, in the framework of an open economy, respecting all fundamental human freedoms great respect for pluralistic, inclusive value system. I think that's what unites India and the United States. And I do hope that working together, our two countries can write a new chapter in the history of our relationship.”

“India has, of course, aspirations of getting out of its poverty, ignorance, and disease which still afflict millions of people. But I do believe that we have something to offer to the rest of the world, including the United States.”

People World Believe Stills States Courses United Poverty Millions United States Ignorance Offers Disease India Including Aspiration

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Nowhere else you will find a country of India's diversity, of India's complexity, one billion people trying to seek their social and economic salvation in the framework of democracy, in the framework of an open economy.”

People Trying Country Social Economy Democracy Economic Diversity India Salvation Billions Complexity Framework

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I sincerely believe what happens in India has, I think, lessons, morals for the future evolution of humankind in the 21st century.”

Thinking Believe Happens Moral Century Evolution Lessons India Humankind 21st Century Sincerely

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I do believe that the future of civilization belongs to those who would lay emphasis on working together instead of talking about clash of civilizations.”

Believe Together Talking Civilization Lays Working Together Emphasis Clash Clash Of Civilizations

Author:Manmohan Singh

“What we need is a dialogue amongst civilizations.”

Needs Civilization Dialogue

Author:Manmohan Singh

“We need multiculturalism, respect for diversity, tolerance, respect for diverse faiths.”

Needs Diversity Tolerance Diverse Multiculturalism

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I believe a large part of humanity will draw appropriate lessons from what is the wave of the future in the 21st century.”

Believe Humanity I Believe Century Lessons Draws Wave Appropriate 21st Century

Author:Manmohan Singh

“With the revolution in information technology, with the revolution in transport technologies, I think just geography has lost its all significance.”

Thinking Lost Technology Information Revolution Significance Geography Transport Information Technology

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I believe whether it is the United States or Europe, they will all end up as multicultural societies.”

Believe Ends States I Believe United United States Europe Multicultural Multicultural Society

Author:Manmohan Singh

“India is this great experiment of a billion people of such great diverse persuasions working together, seeking their salvation in the framework of a democracy. I believe it will have some lessons for all the multicultural societies.”

People Believe Together I Believe Democracy Lessons India Salvation Seeking Billions Experiments Working Together Diverse Persuasion Framework Multicultural Multicultural Society

Author:Manmohan Singh

“I believe all societies, all thriving societies of the future are going to be multicultural societies.”

Believe I Believe Multicultural Multicultural Society

Author:Manmohan Singh

“70 percent of India's imports of oil and oil products are imported from abroad. There is uncertainty about supply. There is uncertainty about prices. And that hurts India's development.”

Hurt Products Development Percent India Oil Uncertainty Imports

Author:Manmohan Singh

“If we have access to nuclear energy, that adds to our maneuverability in ensuring energy security as India marches on, on the path to accelerated development.”

Ifs Energy Path Security Development India Add Access Nuclear March Nuclear Energy Energy Security

Author:Manmohan Singh

“The salvation of the world ultimately lies in moving towards universal nuclear disarmament, but that's a long distance away.”

World Long Moving Lying Universal Salvation Distance Nuclear Disarmament Long Distance Nuclear Disarmament

Author:Manmohan Singh

“Indians, we would like to be a part of the nuclear world order, accepting all the responsibilities that go with being a responsible nuclear power, and at the same time enlarging our options with regard to energy security of our country.”

World Country Order Energy Responsibility Accepting Security Responsible Regard Nuclear Our Country World Order Nuclear Power Energy Security

Author:Manmohan Singh

About the Author

Born: September 26, 1932
Known for: Prime Minister of India
Quotes: 122

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Books & Sources

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: June 2005 to May 2006Related source material

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: June 2007 to May 2008Related source material

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