Vishwanath Pratap Singh

Prime Minister of India (1989-1990)

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Lived 1931–2008, aged 77India

India PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
49 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1931–2008
Aged 77

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

He held India's top job for less than a year, but the decision he made — reserving government posts for backward castes — set off protests, self-immolations, and a political realignment that still shapes the country three decades later.

Biography

About

Vishwanath Pratap Singh was educated at Allahabad University and Fergusson College, joined the Indian National Congress in 1969, and rose through Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet as Minister of Finance and Defence. When the Bofors scandal broke during his defence tenure, he resigned, then split to form the Janata Dal in 1988. The National Front, backed by the BJP, made him prime minister in 1989. He implemented the Mandal Commission report, triggering mass protests, and enacted the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act. His government traded five terrorists for a kidnapped minister's daughter — a pivo…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Vishwanath Pratap Singh

Vishwanath Pratap Singh

said19 Dec 2008

I would be a disaster as a prime minister.

— In: India Today 10 quotes that said it all, India Today, 19 December 2008.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh

said7 Feb 2004

Everybody knows I worked with Rajiv closely and we also fought each other over our beliefs.

— In: Rediff.com, At no point did I charge that Rajiv personally took money in the Bofors affair, rediff.com, 7 February 2004.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh

said25 Jun 1931

The visual always fascinated me. As I grew up, I slowly realized that we not only see through our eyes, but also from the heart. Feeling is living. Beauty is understanding.

— In: Sushmita Dutta Singh: The Renaissance Man (25 June 1931- 27 Nov 2008), Zeenews.com

Vishwanath Pratap Singh

saidundated