PV Narasimha Rao birth anniversary: PM Modi, leaders pay tribute to reform architect
Synopsis
On what would have been his 104th birth anniversary, PV Narasimha Rao drew tributes from PM Modi, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge — a cross-party acknowledgement that is itself a measure of how completely the 1991 liberalisation has entered India's national consensus.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to former PM PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, 28 June .
Rao, born 28 June 1921 in Karimnagar , served as India's 9th Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 .
He is credited with dismantling the Licence Raj and steering India's landmark economic liberalisation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , Union Minister Nitin Gadkari , and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also posted tributes on X.
Kharge highlighted Rao's role in India's nuclear programme and the landmark 'Look East' policy .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 28 June paid homage to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, calling him an able administrator and distinguished scholar who made enduring contributions to India during a critical phase of the nation's history. Leaders across the political spectrum joined in remembering Rao, widely regarded as the architect of India's landmark economic liberalisation.
PM Modi's tribute
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Tributes to former Prime Minister Shri PV Narasimha Rao Ji on his birth anniversary. He made enduring contributions to India's progress during a critical phase of our nation's history. He made a mark as an able administrator. He was also a distinguished scholar, blessed with immense knowledge and understanding of India's diverse culture.'
Tributes from across the political spectrum
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Rao as 'a visionary leader and distinguished statesman' who 'marked a defining moment in India's economic journey,' in his own post on X. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid his respects, remembering the former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee on the occasion.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Rao's path-breaking economic liberalisation, writing that it 'accelerated growth, expanded opportunities for the middle class, and set the country on a trajectory of long-term development.' Kharge also noted Rao's significant strides in India's nuclear programme and his farsighted 'Look East' diplomatic policy.
Who was PV Narasimha Rao
Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao was born on 28 June 1921 in Karimnagar. He studied at Osmania University, Hyderabad, Bombay University, and Nagpur University. An agriculturist and advocate by profession, Rao held several key portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh government — including Minister for Law and Information (1962–64), Law and Endowments (1964–67), Health and Medicine (1967), and Education (1968–71) — before serving as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1971 to 1973.
Legacy as India's reform Prime Minister
Rao served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996, a period that proved transformative for the country's economy. Widely credited as the 'Father of Indian Economic Reforms', he dismantled the restrictive Licence Raj and shepherded a sweeping liberalisation programme that permanently altered India's economic trajectory. His tenure also witnessed significant advances in foreign policy and strategic affairs, including the landmark 'Look East' policy that reoriented India's engagement with Southeast Asia.
As India marks what would have been his 104th birth anniversary, the cross-party chorus of tributes underscores the enduring national consensus around his legacy — a rare distinction in contemporary Indian politics.
Point of View
IMF-pressured pivot is now claimed as legacy by both the BJP and Congress. Yet the anniversary also invites an uncomfortable question: if Rao's liberalisation is so universally celebrated, why does India's manufacturing share of GDP and ease-of-doing-business ranking still lag the ambitions that 1991 was meant to unlock? Rao's legacy is secure; the unfinished business of his reform agenda is not.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was PV Narasimha Rao?
PV Narasimha Rao was India's 9th Prime Minister, serving from 1991 to 1996. Born on 28 June 1921 in Karimnagar, he is widely regarded as the 'Father of Indian Economic Reforms' for dismantling the Licence Raj and steering the country's landmark economic liberalisation.
Why is PV Narasimha Rao called the Father of Indian Economic Reforms?
Rao is credited with launching India's sweeping economic liberalisation in 1991, dismantling the restrictive Licence Raj system that had governed industrial policy for decades. His reforms opened the economy to foreign investment, deregulated key sectors, and set India on a long-term growth trajectory.
What did PM Modi say about PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary?
PM Modi posted on X that Rao 'made enduring contributions to India's progress during a critical phase of our nation's history,' describing him as an able administrator and a distinguished scholar with deep knowledge of India's diverse culture.
What was the 'Look East' policy associated with Narasimha Rao?
The 'Look East' policy, initiated during Rao's tenure, reoriented India's foreign policy toward deeper engagement with Southeast Asian nations. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described it as a 'farsighted diplomatic initiative' that had a lasting impact on India's strategic posture.
Who else paid tribute to PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge all posted tributes on X, reflecting a rare cross-party consensus on Rao's contribution to India's development.
