P. V. Narasimha Rao#Economic reforms

P. V. Narasimha Rao was born on 28 June 1921 in a Telugu Niyogi Brahmin{{sfn|Reddy|1993|p=35}} family in the village of Laknepalli village of Narsampet mandal, Warangal district of present-day Telangana (then part of Hyderabad State).{{sfn|Reddy|1993|p=35}}{{citation |title=P.V. Narasimha Rao |date=17 May 2023 |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/P-V-Narasimha-Rao |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602181221/https://www.britannica.com/biography/P-V-Narasimha-Rao |archive-date=2 June 2023 |url-status=live |encyclopedia=britannica.com}}{{Cite news |date=25 June 2014 |title=People hail decision on PV's birth anniversary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/people-hail-decision-on-pvs-birth-anniversary/article6146786.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231124923/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/people-hail-decision-on-pvs-birth-anniversary/article6146786.ece |archive-date=31 December 2019 |access-date=31 December 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu}} His father Sitarama Rao and mother Rukma Bai hailed from agrarian families.{{cite book |last1=Aggarwala |first1=Adish C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CfxtAAAAMAAJ&q=+Rukma+Bai |title=P.V. Narasimha Rao, Scholar Prime Minister |date=1995 |publisher=Amish Publications |isbn=978-81-900289-1-2 |pages=215, 298 |quote=His father Mr. Sitarama Rao and mother Mrs. Rukma Bai. With his wife Mrs. Satyamma |access-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209130736/https://books.google.com/books?id=CfxtAAAAMAAJ&q=+Rukma+Bai |archive-date=9 February 2024 |url-status=live}} Later, he was adopted by Pamulaparthi Ranga Rao and Rukminamma and brought to Vangara, a village in Bheemadevarpalle mandal of present-day Hanamkonda district in Telangana when he was three years old.{{sfn|Sitapati|2016|p=}} Popularly known as P. V., he completed part of his primary education in Katkuru village of Bheemdevarapalli mandal in Hanamkonda district by staying in his relative Gabbeta Radhakishan Rao's house and studying for his bachelor's degree in the Arts college at the Osmania University. He was part of Vande Mataram movement in the late 1930s in the Hyderabad State. He later went on to Hislop College, now under Nagpur University, where he completed a master's degree in law.{{citation |title=Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao |work=pmindia.gov.in |url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-p-v-narasimha-rao-2/ |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901195136/https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-p-v-narasimha-rao-2/ |archive-date=1 September 2020 |url-status=live}} He completed his law from Fergusson College in Pune of the University of Bombay (now Mumbai).

Along with his distant cousin Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao, Ch. Raja Narendra and Devulapalli Damodar Rao, P. V. edited a Telugu weekly magazine called Kakatiya Patrika in the 1940s.{{cite web |title=Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao |url=http://kakatiyapatrika.com/?page_id=20&cpage=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021206/http://kakatiyapatrika.com/?page_id=20&cpage=1 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=30 March 2010 |work=M. Rajagopalachary, Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao Memorial Endowment Lecture |publisher=kakatiyapatrika.com}} Both P. V. and Sadasiva Rao contributed articles under the pen-name Jaya-Vijaya.{{cite web |date=31 October 2009 |title=With PV |url=http://kakatiyapatrika.com/?p=57 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713133032/http://kakatiyapatrika.com/?p=57 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=30 March 2010 |work=kakatiyapatrika.com}} He served as the Chairman of the Telugu Academy in Andhra Pradesh from 1968 to 1974.

He had wide interests in a variety of subjects (other than politics), such as literature and computer software (including computer programming).{{cite news |date=15 July 1991 |title=The meek inheritor |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/prime-minister-narasimha-rao-a-faithful-but-unambitious-congressman/1/318533.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117090315/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/prime-minister-narasimha-rao-a-faithful-but-unambitious-congressman/1/318533.html |archive-date=17 November 2013 |access-date=17 November 2013 |newspaper=India Today |quote=Rao was one of the first converts to the new technology. Today, he is so adept with the machines that along with the 10 Indian and four foreign languages, Rao has also taught himself some computer languages and is now able to programme them.}} He spoke 17 languages.

Rao died in 2004 of a heart attack in New Delhi. He was cremated in Hyderabad.{{cite web |date=26 December 2004 |title=Narasimha Rao cremated |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/26/stories/2004122601690300.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181502/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/26/stories/2004122601690300.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=18 April 2007 |work=thehindubusinessline.com}}

File:Visit of Narasimha Rao, Indian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the CEC.jpg

Rao was an active freedom fighter during the Indian Independence movement{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119155631/http://www.indianembassy.org/PV/pv.pdf |title=A Profile of P.V. Narasimha Rao |publisher=Embassy of India in Washington |archive-date=19 January 2010 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.indianembassy.org/PV/pv.pdf }} and joined full-time politics after independence as a member of the Indian National Congress. He served as an elected representative for Andhra Pradesh State Assembly from 1957 to 1977. He served in various ministerial positions in Andhra government from 1962 to 1973. He became the Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1971 and implemented land reforms and land ceiling acts strictly. He secured reservations for lower castes in politics during his tenure. President's rule had to be imposed to counter the Jai Andhra movement during his tenure.

He supported Indira Gandhi in the formation of the New Congress party in 1969 by splitting the Indian National Congress. This was later regrouped as Congress (I) party in 1978. He served as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Andhra Pradesh. He rose to national prominence for handling several diverse portfolios, most significantly Home, Defence and Foreign Affairs, in the cabinets of both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He served as Foreign minister from 1980 to 1984 and then from 1988 to 1989. In fact, it is speculated that he was in the running for the post of India's President along with Zail Singh in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.mjakbar.org/blog/archives/2004_12_01_mjakbarblog_archive.html|archive-date=17 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917205158/http://www.mjakbar.org/blog/archives/2004_12_01_mjakbarblog_archive.html|title=The Lonely Masks of Narasimha Rao|work=mjakbar.org|access-date=24 August 2007}}{{better source needed|date=April 2020}}

Rao very nearly retired from politics in 1991. He was the Indian National Congress President from 29 May 1991– Sept.1996. It was the assassination of the Congress President Rajiv Gandhi that persuaded him to make a comeback.John F. Burns (21 May 1995). [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/21/world/crisis-in-india-leader-survives-for-now.html Crisis in India: Leader Survives, for Now] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701071607/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/21/world/crisis-in-india-leader-survives-for-now.html |date=1 July 2017 }}. The New York Times. As the Congress had won the largest number of seats in the 1991 elections, he had an opportunity to head the minority government as Prime Minister. He was the first person outside the Nehru–Gandhi family to serve as Prime Minister for five continuous years, the first to hail from the State of Telangana,{{efn|Then United Andhra Pradesh}} and also the first from Southern India.[http://www.boloji.com/plainspeak/045.htm Observations on Indian Independence Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112211011/http://www.boloji.com/plainspeak/045.htm |date=12 November 2006 }}. Subash Kapila. Retrieved 2 March 2007. Since Rao had not contested the general elections, he then participated in a by-election in Nandyal to join the parliament. Rao won from Nandyal with a victory margin of a record 5 lakh (500,000) votes, and his win was recorded in the Guinness Book Of World Records; later on, in 1996, he was MP from Berhampur, Ganjam District, Odisha.[http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/andhra27.htm Rao's world record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109090540/http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/andhra27.htm |date=9 November 2007 }}. rediff.com. Retrieved 2 March 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/rezuj/pt.html |title=Indian Political Trivia |access-date=18 April 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206101148/http://www.geocities.com/rezuj/pt.html |archive-date=6 February 2005 }}. Retrieved 19 April 2007. His cabinet included Sharad Pawar, himself a strong contender for the Prime Minister's post, as Defence Minister. He also broke a convention by appointing a non-political economist and future prime minister, Manmohan Singh as his Finance Minister.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-22-mn-916-story.html|title=Rao takes oath in India, names his cabinet|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=30 March 2010|date=22 June 1991|archive-date=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309032630/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-22/news/mn-916_1_prime-minister|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3725357.stm|title=Profile: Manmohan Singh|work=BBC News|date=30 March 2009|access-date=30 March 2010|archive-date=2 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902065144/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3725357.stm|url-status=live}} He also appointed Subramanian Swamy, an opposition party (Janata Party) member as the Chairman of the Commission on Labour Standards and International Trade. This has been the only instance that an opposition party member was given a Cabinet rank post by the ruling party. He also sent opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to represent India in a UN meeting at Geneva.{{Cite news |last=Jha |first=Prabhat |date=24 December 2020 |title=No one like Atalji |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/no-one-like-atal-bihari-vajpayee-7118859/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123083955/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/no-one-like-atal-bihari-vajpayee-7118859/ |url-status=live }}

Narasimha Rao fought and won elections from different parts of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.{{cite news|title=Ramtek voters in tepid mood|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Ramtek-voters-in-tepid-mood/articleshow/4265463.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200039/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-15/nagpur/28003526_1_dalits-jogendra-kawade-congress-fields|url-status=live|archive-date=2 January 2014|access-date=17 November 2013|work=The Times of India|date=15 March 2009}}{{cite news|title=orissa|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/oris11.htm|access-date=17 November 2013|archive-date=9 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209130722/https://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/oris11.htm|url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{Main|Economic liberalisation in India}}

{{See also|1991 Indian economic crisis}}

File:Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao Addressing - Inaugural Function - National Science Centre - New Delhi 1992-01-09 247.tif

Adopted to avert the impending 1991 economic crisis,{{cite news|title=Narasimha Rao led India at crucial juncture, was father of economic reform: Pranab|access-date=25 January 2013|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Narasimha-Rao-led-India-at-crucial-juncture-was-father-of-economic-reform-Pranab/articleshow/17831434.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520071110/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-31/india/36078990_1_economic-reforms-president-pranab-mukherjee-finance-minister|url-status=live|archive-date=20 May 2013|work=The Times of India|date= 31 December 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.globaleconomicgovernance.org/wp-content/uploads/ghosh-pathways_india.pdf|archive-date=25 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025042847/http://www.globaleconomicgovernance.org/wp-content/uploads/ghosh-pathways_india.pdf|title= India's Pathway through Financial Crisis|work=globaleconomicgovernance.org|others=Arunabha Ghosh|publisher=Global Economic Governance Programme|access-date=2 March 2007}} the reforms progressed furthest in the areas of opening up to foreign investment, reforming capital markets, deregulating domestic business, and reforming the trade regime. Rao's government's goals were reducing the fiscal deficit, privatisation of the public sector and increasing investment in infrastructure. Trade reforms and changes in the regulation of foreign direct investment were introduced to open India to foreign trade while stabilising external loans. Rao wanted I. G. Patel as his Finance Minister.[http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20020225/jairam.shtml Time To Tune In To FM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041229083426/http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20020225/jairam.shtml |date=29 December 2004 }}. Indiatoday.com (25 February 2002). Retrieved 10 July 2012. Patel was an official who helped prepare 14 budgets, an ex-governor of the Reserve Bank of India and had headed The London School of Economics. But Patel declined. Rao then chose Manmohan Singh for the job. Manmohan Singh, an acclaimed economist, played a central role in implementing these reforms.

Major reforms in India's capital markets led to an influx of foreign portfolio investment. The major economic policies adopted by Rao include:

• Abolishing in 1992 the Controller of Capital Issues which decided the prices and number of shares that firms could issue.[http://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/workgroups/bdlaw/1993-a15.htm Securities and Exchange Commission Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502012536/http://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/workgroups/bdlaw/1993-a15.htm |date=2 May 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
• Introducing the SEBI Act of 1992 and the Security Laws (Amendment) which gave SEBI the legal authority to register and regulate all security market intermediaries.{{cite web|url=http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/sebiact/sebiact.htm |title=Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 |access-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012130135/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/sebiact/sebiact.htm |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}. vakilno1.com.
• Opening up in 1992 of India's equity markets to investment by foreign institutional investors and permitting Indian firms to raise capital on international markets by issuing Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).{{cite web|url=http://iic.nic.in/iic3_i.htm |title=India's Economic Policies |access-date=1 March 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107225608/http://iic.nic.in/iic3_i.htm |archive-date=7 January 2010 }}. Indian Investment Centre. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
• Starting in 1994 of the National Stock Exchange as a computer-based trading system which served as an instrument to leverage reforms of India's other stock exchanges. The NSE emerged as India's largest exchange by 1996.Ajay Shah and Susan Thomas. [http://www.mayin.org/ajayshah/PDFDOCS/ShahThomas2000_jgfm.pdf How NSE surpassed BSE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207095034/http://www.mayin.org/ajayshah/PDFDOCS/ShahThomas2000_jgfm.pdf |date=7 February 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
• Reducing tariffs from an average of 85 per cent to 25 per cent, and rolling back quantitative controls. (The rupee was made convertible on trade account.)J. Bradford DeLong (July 2001). {{cite web|url=http://econ161.berkeley.edu/Econ_Articles/India/India_Rodrik_DeLong.html |title=The Indian Growth Miracle |access-date=1 March 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515135852/http://econ161.berkeley.edu/Econ_Articles/India/India_Rodrik_DeLong.html |archive-date=15 May 2008 }}. berkeley.edu.
• Encouraging foreign direct investment by increasing the maximum limit on share of foreign capital in joint ventures from 40 to 51% with 100% foreign equity permitted in priority sectors.Ajay Singh and Arjuna Ranawana. [http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/96/0412/nat1.html India. Conflict of Interest. Local industrialists issue a broadside against multinationals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101044436/http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/96/0412/nat1.html |date=1 November 2007 }}. Asiaweek. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
• Streamlining procedures for FDI approvals, and in at least 35 industries, automatically approving projects within the limits for foreign participation.[http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN024036.pdf FDI in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128235035/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN024036.pdf |date=28 November 2006 }}. Kulwindar Singh. Retrieved 2 March 2007.

The impact of these reforms may be gauged from the fact that total foreign investment (including foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, and investment raised on international capital markets) in India grew from a minuscule US$132 million in 1991–92 to $5.3 billion in 1995–96. Rao began industrial policy reforms with the manufacturing sector. He slashed industrial licensing, leaving only 18 industries subject to licensing. Industrial regulation was rationalised.

File:Rabiya.jpg

Rao energised the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles programme, which ultimately resulted in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. It is speculated that the tests were actually planned in 1995, during Rao's term in office,[http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/?p=1138 Narasimha Rao and the bomb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929011758/http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/?p=1138 |date=29 September 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007. and that they were dropped under American pressure when the US intelligence got the whiff of it.[https://web.archive.org/web/20040401113301/http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13381077 Clinton stopped Rao from testing nukes]. sify.com (5 February 2004). Another view was that he purposefully leaked the information to gain time to develop and test the thermonuclear device which was not yet ready.[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-mole-and-the-fox/9501/0 The mole and the fox] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209130608/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/the-mole-and-the-fox/ |date=9 February 2024 }}. Shekhar Gupta. Retrieved 2 March 2007. He increased military spending, and set the Indian Army on course to fight the emerging threat of terrorism and insurgencies, as well as Pakistan and China's nuclear potentials. It was during his term that khalistani terrorism in the Indian state of Punjab was finally defeated.[http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html Punjab Assessment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234022/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html |date=26 September 2007 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007. Also scenarios of aircraft hijackings, which occurred during Rao's time ended without the government conceding the terrorists' demands.[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE5-5/Kasturi.html National Security Guards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929205124/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE5-5/Kasturi.html |date=29 September 2012 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007. He also directed negotiations to secure the release of Doraiswamy, an Indian Oil executive, from Kashmiri terrorists who kidnapped him,[http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/11ram.htm 5 Years On: Scarred and scared] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301014242/http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/11ram.htm |date=1 March 2007 }}. Retrieved 20 April 2007. and Liviu Radu, a Romanian diplomat posted in New Delhi in October 1991, who was kidnapped by Sikh terrorists.Bishwanath Ghosh. {{cite web|url=http://newindpress.com/sunday/colItems.asp?ID=SEH20021212083721 |title=Held to ransom |access-date=21 April 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104163648/http://newindpress.com/sunday/colItems.asp?ID=SEH20021212083721 |archive-date=4 November 2007 }}. newindpress.com. Rao also handled the Indian response to the occupation of the Hazratbal holy shrine in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists in October 1993.[http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/basicfacts/politics/profile_1993_94.html Profile of Changing Situation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218080913/http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/basicfacts/politics/profile_1993_94.html |date=18 December 2006 }}. Retrieved 2 March 2007. He brought the occupation to an end without damage to the shrine. Similarly, he dealt with the kidnapping of some foreign tourists by a terrorist group called Al Faran in Kashmir valley in 1995 effectively. Although he could not secure the release of the hostages, his policies ensured that the terrorists demands were not conceded to, and that the action of the terrorists was condemned internationally, including Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.subcontinent.com/sapra/research/terrorism/tr_1996_03_001_s.html |title=Al Faran and the Hostage Crisis in Kashmir |access-date=15 February 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112111132/http://www.subcontinent.com/sapra/research/terrorism/tr_1996_03_001_s.html |archive-date=12 January 2008 }}. subcontinent.com (10 March 1996).

Rao also made diplomatic overtures to Western Europe, the United States, and China.{{cite book |last1=Upadhyaya |first1=Shishir |title=India's Maritime Strategy: Balancing Regional Ambitions and China |date=5 September 2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-67375-7 |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BHatDwAAQBAJ |language=en |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-date=7 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007045036/https://books.google.com/books?id=BHatDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=S. Nihal |title=Opinion {{!}} India Keeps Its Foreign Options Open |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/21/opinion/IHT-india-keeps-its-foreign-options-open.html |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=The New York Times |agency=International Herald Tribune |date=21 October 1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213042810/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/21/opinion/IHT-india-keeps-its-foreign-options-open.html |archive-date=13 December 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Goshko |first1=John M. |title=Clinton Moves To Ease Relationship With India |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/05/20/clinton-moves-to-ease-relationship-with-india/d8b4e754-283e-47f3-8704-637454830624/ |access-date=26 September 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=20 May 1994}} He decided in 1992 to bring into the open India's relations with Israel, which had been kept covertly active for a few years during his tenure as a Foreign Minister, and permitted Israel to open an embassy in New Delhi.{{cite web|url=http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/1998/issue2/jv2n2a6.html|archive-date=3 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403093140/http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/1998/issue2/jv2n2a6.html|title=Strategic Partnership Between Israel and India|work=meria.idc.ac.il|others=P.R. Kumaraswamy|access-date=2 March 2007}} He ordered the intelligence community in 1992 to start a systematic drive to draw the international community's attention to Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism against India and not to be discouraged by US efforts to undermine the exercise.{{cite web|url=http://www.saag.org/papers/paper97.html |title=Pakistan and Terrorism |work=saag.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205032048/http://saag.org/papers/paper97.html |archive-date=5 December 2006 }}[http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/21raman.htm Never trust the US on Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130094530/http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/21raman.htm |date=30 November 2006 }}. rediff.com (21 July 2006). Retrieved 2 March 2007. Rao launched the Look East foreign policy, which brought India closer to ASEAN.{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20101027210827/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/12/24/stories/2004122407541200.htm Narasimha Rao and the `Look East' policy]}}. The Hindu (24 December 2004). Retrieved 2 March 2007. According to Rejaul Karim Laskar, a scholar of India's foreign policy and ideologue of Rao's Congress Party, Rao initiated the Look East policy with three objectives in mind, namely, to renew political contacts with the ASEAN-member nation; to increase economic interaction with South East Asia in trade, investment, science and technology, tourism, etc.; and to forge strategic and defence links with several countries of South East Asia.{{cite journal|last1=Laskar|first1=Rejaul Karim|title=Strides in Look East Policy|journal=Congress Sandesh|date=July 2005|volume=7|issue=11|page=19}} He decided to maintain a distance from the Dalai Lama in order to avoid aggravating Beijing's suspicions and concerns, and made successful overtures to Tehran. The 'cultivate Iran' policy was pushed through vigorously by him.{{cite web|url=http://www.photius.com/countries/india/government/india_government_middle_east.html|title=India and the Middle East|work=photius.com|access-date=2 March 2007|archive-date=19 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319210312/http://www.photius.com/countries/india/government/india_government_middle_east.html|url-status=live}} These policies paid rich dividends for India in March 1994, when Benazir Bhutto's efforts to have a resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir failed, with opposition by China and Iran.Samuel P. Huntington, New World Order. Retrieved 2 March 2007.

Rao's crisis management after the 12 March 1993 Bombay bombings was highly praised. He personally visited Bombay after the blasts and, after seeing evidence of Pakistani involvement in the blasts, ordered the intelligence community to invite the intelligence agencies of the US, UK and other Western European countries to send their counter-terrorism experts to Bombay to examine the facts for themselves.[http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/14raman.htm Lessons from the Mumbai blasts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106134942/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/14raman.htm |date=6 November 2007 }}. rediff.com (14 March 2003). Retrieved 2 March 2007.

Rao decided that India, which in 1991 was on the brink of bankruptcy,{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3680/is_199810/ai_n8812118/pg_6|title=India's economic reforms|work=findarticles.com}} {{Dead link|date=July 2012}} would benefit from opening its economy. He appointed economist Manmohan Singh, a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, as Finance Minister to accomplish his goals. This liberalisation was criticised by many socialist nationalists at that time.{{cite magazine |author1=John Greenwald |author2=Anita Pratap |author3=Dick Thompson |date=18 September 1995 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C983429%2C00.html |title=No Passage to India |magazine=Time |access-date=2 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930091951/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C983429%2C00.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}

He is often referred as 'Father of Indian Economic Reforms'.{{cite news |title=PV Narasimha Rao: The 10th Prime Minister who changed the face of Indian economy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/pv-narasimha-rao-839110-2016-12-23 |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=India Today |date=23 December 2016 |language=en |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629013132/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/pv-narasimha-rao-839110-2016-12-23 |url-status=live }} PV Narasimha Rao: The 10th Prime Minister who changed the face of Indian economy under Rao's mandate and leadership, then finance minister Manmohan Singh launched a series of pro-globalisation reforms, including International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies, to rescue the almost-bankrupt nation from economic collapse.{{cite news |last1=Kujur |first1=Anupa |title=PV Narasimha Rao's 97th birth anniversary: Remembering India's 'modern-day Chanakya' |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/pv-narasimha-raos-97th-birth-anniversary-remembering-indias-modern-day-chanakya-2644361.html |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Moneycontrol |date=28 June 2018 |language=en |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222121241/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/pv-narasimha-raos-97th-birth-anniversary-remembering-indias-modern-day-chanakya-2644361.html |url-status=live }}

Kalam recalls that Rao ordered him not to test, since "the election result was quite different from what he anticipated". The BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee took over as prime minister on 16 May 1996. Narasimha Rao, Abdul Kalam and R Chidambaram went to meet the new prime minister "so that", in Kalam's telling, "the smooth takeover of such a very important programme can take place".{{cite news |author=Sitapati, Vinay |title=Narasimha Rao, not Vajpayee, was the PM who set India on a nuclear explosion path |url=https://scroll.in/article/810874/narasimha-rao-not-vajpayee-was-the-pm-who-set-india-on-a-nuclear-explosion-path |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Scroll.in |date=1 July 2016 |archive-date=30 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530044127/https://scroll.in/article/810874/narasimha-rao-not-vajpayee-was-the-pm-who-set-india-on-a-nuclear-explosion-path |url-status=live }}

Rao knew he had only one chance to test before sanctions kicked in, i.e., he could not both test conventional atomic bombs in December 1995 as well as the hydrogen bomb separately in April 1996. As Shekhar Gupta – who has had unprecedented access to Rao as well as the nuclear team – speculates: "By late 1995, Rao's scientists told him that they needed six more months. They could test some weapons but not others...thermonuclear etc. So Rao began a charade of taking preliminary steps to test, without intending to test then."

National elections were scheduled for May 1996, and Rao spent the next two months campaigning. On 8 May at 21:00, Abdul Kalam was asked to immediately meet with the prime minister. Rao told him, "Kalam, be ready with the Department of Atomic Energy and your team for the N-test and I am going to Tirupati. You wait for my authorisation to go ahead with the test. DRDO-DAE teams must be ready for action."

Rao energised the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles programme. His efforts resulted in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests.

Vajpayee said that, in May 1996, a few days after he had succeeded Rao as prime minister, "Rao told me that the bomb was ready. I only exploded it."

File:The Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao releasing an onerupee commemorative coin on late Shri Rajiv Gandhi former prime Minister, on the occasion of his first death anniversary in New Delhi on May 21, 1992.jpg

"Saamagri tayyar hai," Rao had said. ("The ingredients are ready.") "You can go ahead."

The conventional narrative at the time was that prime minister Rao had wanted to test nuclear weapons in December 1995. The Americans had caught on, and Rao had dithered – as was his wont. Three years later, prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee fulfilled his party's campaign promise by ordering five nuclear tests below the shimmering sands of Rajasthan.

{{See also|Separatist movements of India}}

Rao successfully decimated the Sikh separatist movement and neutralised the Kashmiri separatist movement to a certain extent. It is said that Rao was 'solely responsible' for the decision to hold elections in Punjab, no matter how narrow the electorate base would be.[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?226253 Quiet Goes The Don] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501035933/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?226253 |date=1 May 2013 }}. Outlookindia.com (17 January 2005). Retrieved 10 July 2012. In dealing with Kashmir, Rao's government was highly restrained by the US government and its president, Bill Clinton. Rao's government introduced the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA),{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/document/actandordinances/TADA.HTM|title=Terrorism & Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act|work=satp.org|access-date=2 March 2007|archive-date=30 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130063630/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/document/actandordinances/Tada.htm|url-status=live}} India's first anti-terrorism legislation, and directed the Indian Army to eliminate the infiltrators from Pakistan.Meredith Weiss (25 June 2002). {{cite web|url=http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/globalization/kashmir.pdf |title=The Jammu & Kashmir Conflict |access-date=14 February 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304030654/http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/globalization/kashmir.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2009 }}. yale.edu. Despite a heavy and largely successful Army campaign, Pakistani Media accuses the state of descending into a security nightmare. Tourism and commerce were also largely disrupted.

{{See also|Ayodhya debate|Demolition of Babri Masjid}}

In the late 1980s, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brought the Ram Janmabhoomi issue to the centre stage of national politics, and the BJP and VHP began organising large-scale protests in Ayodhya and around the country.

Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) demolished the Babri Mosque (which was constructed by Mir Baqi, a general of India's first Mughal Emperor, BaburNCERT Pg 184 (Politics in India since Independence, Class XII)) in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.org/0407/abstracts/ayodhya.html|title=Flashpoint Ayodhya|work=archaeology.org|access-date=2 March 2007|archive-date=22 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122220518/http://www.archaeology.org/0407/abstracts/ayodhya.html|url-status=live}} The site is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama.{{cite news |title=Ayodhya verdict: Indian top court gives holy site to Hindus |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50355775 |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109142205/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50355775 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title='Faith, evidence prove Masjid was on Ram's birthplace' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/faith-evidence-prove-masjid-was-on-rams-birthplace-774808.html |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=Deccan Herald |date=9 November 2019 |language=en |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125190607/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/faith-evidence-prove-masjid-was-on-rams-birthplace-774808.html |url-status=live }} The destruction of the disputed structure, which was widely reported in the international media, unleashed large scale communal violence, the most extensive since the Partition of India. Hindus and Muslims were involved in massive rioting across the country and almost every major city, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bhopal, struggled to control the unrest.{{sfn|P. V. Narasimha Rao |2006|p=58}}

Rao had assured the Muslims that the Babri Mosque would be rebuilt.{{cite news |last1=Kulkarni |first1=Sagar |date=9 November 2019 |title=Narasimha Rao, the man Cong blames for Babri demolition |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/narasimha-rao-the-man-cong-blames-for-babri-demolition-774889.html |work=Deccan Herald |access-date=10 February 2024}} The Liberhan Commission, after extensive hearing and investigation, exonerated Rao. It pointed out that Rao was heading a minority government and accepted the centre's argument that central forces could not be deployed by the Union, nor could President's Rule be imposed "on the basis of rumours or media reports". Taking such a step would have created a "bad precedent" damaging the federal structure and would have "amounted to interference" in the state administration, it said. The state "deliberately and consciously understated" the risk to the disputed structure and general law and order. The commission also stated that the Governor's assessment of the situation was either badly flawed or overly optimistic and was thus a major impediment to the central government. The Commission further said, "... knowing fully well that its facetious undertakings before the Supreme Court had bought it sufficient breathing space, it (state government) proceeded with the planning for the destruction of the disputed structure. The Supreme Court's own observer failed to alert it to the sinister undercurrents. The Governor and its intelligence agencies, charged with acting as the eyes and ears of the central government, also failed in their task. Without substantive procedural prerequisites, neither the Supreme Court nor the Union of India was able to take any meaningful steps."{{cite news |title=Rao govt was reduced to position of helpless bystander |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/rao-govt-was-reduced-to-position-of-helpless-bystander/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=25 November 2009 |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501182100/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/rao-govt-was-reduced-to-position-of-helpless-bystander/ |url-status=live }}

In another interview with journalist Shekhar Gupta, Rao spoke further about the demolition. He said he was wary of the impact of hundreds of deaths on the nation and that it could have been far worse. He also argued that he had to consider the possibility that some of the troops would have turned around and joined the mobs instead. Regarding the dismissal of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, he said, "mere dismissal does not mean you can take control. It takes a day or so to appoint advisers, send them to Lucknow, and take control of the state. Meanwhile, what had to happen would have happened, and there would have been no Kalyan Singh to blame either."[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tearing-down-narasimha-rao/547260/0 Tearing down Narasimha Rao] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306082940/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tearing-down-narasimha-rao/547260/0 |date=6 March 2010 }}. Indianexpress.com (28 November 2009). Retrieved 10 July 2012.

{{main|1993 Latur earthquake}}

In 1993, a strong earthquake in Latur, Maharashtra, killed nearly 10,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.ernet.in/section/seismo/static/latur.htm |title=Latur EarthQuake of 30 September 1993 |access-date=17 February 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307110842/http://www.imd.ernet.in/section/seismo/static/latur.htm |archive-date=7 March 2005 }}. imd.ernet.in. Rao was applauded by many for using modern technology and resources to organise major relief operations to assuage the stricken people, and for schemes of economic reconstruction.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/prime-ministers-of-india/p-v-narasimha-rao|title=PV Narsimha Rao – IIFL|website=Indiainfoline|access-date=21 October 2019|archive-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021074217/https://www.indiainfoline.com/prime-ministers-of-india/p-v-narasimha-rao|url-status=live}}

{{main|Purulia arms drop case}}

Narasimha Rao was charged for his facilitating safe exit of accused of 1995 Purulia arms drop case.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Purulia-arms-drop-had-govt-sanction-Davy/articleshow/8112968.cms|title=Purulia arms drop had govt sanction: Davy | India News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=29 April 2011|access-date=31 December 2019|archive-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818001702/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Purulia-arms-drop-had-govt-sanction-Davy/articleshow/8112968.cms|url-status=live}} Although, it was never proved.

In the early 1990s, one of the earliest accusations came in the form of stockbroker Harshad Mehta, who through his lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, revealed that he had paid a sum of one crore rupees to the then prime minister Rao for help in closing his cases.{{cite news |last1=Bobb |first1=Dilip |title=Securities scam: Harshad Mehta claims to have paid Rs 1 crore to PM Narasimha Rao |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19930715-securities-scam-harshad-mehta-claims-to-have-paid-rs-1-crore-to-narasimha-rao-812067-1993-07-15 |access-date=15 October 2020 |work=India Today |date=15 July 1993 |language=en |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021151539/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19930715-securities-scam-harshad-mehta-claims-to-have-paid-rs-1-crore-to-narasimha-rao-812067-1993-07-15 |url-status=live }}

Rao's government faced a no-confidence motion in July 1993, because the opposition felt that it did not have sufficient numbers to prove a majority. It was alleged that Rao, through a representative, offered millions of rupees to members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and possibly a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal, to vote for him during the confidence motion. Shailendra Mahato, one of those members who had accepted the bribe, turned approver. In 1996, after Rao's term in office had expired, investigations began in earnest in the case. In 2000, after years of legal proceedings, a special court convicted Rao and his colleague, Buta Singh (who is alleged to have escorted the MPs to the Prime Minister).{{cite news | url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000930/main1.htm | title= Rao, Buta convicted in JMM bribery case | newspaper= The Tribune | date= 29 September 2000 | access-date= 2 March 2007 | archive-date= 12 March 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070312061013/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000930/main1.htm | url-status= live }} Rao was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment up to three years and a fine of 100,000 rupees ($2,150) for corruption.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/968505.stm SOUTH ASIA | Ex-Indian PM sentenced to jail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012658/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/968505.stm |date=5 October 2013 }}. BBC News (12 October 2000). Retrieved 28 July 2013. Rao appealed to the Delhi High Court and remained free on bail. In 2002, the Delhi High Court overturned the lower court's decision mainly due to the doubt in credibility of Mahato's statements, which were extremely inconsistent, and both Rao and Buta Singh were acquitted of the charges.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1874500.stm Ex-Indian PM cleared of bribery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109024003/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1874500.stm |date=9 November 2012 }}. BBC News (15 March 2002). Retrieved 2 March 2007.

Rao, along with fellow minister K. K. Tewary, Chandraswami and K. N. Aggarwal, were accused of forging documents showing that Ajeya Singh had opened a bank account in the First Trust Corporation Bank in Saint Kitts and deposited $21 million in it, making his father V. P. Singh its beneficiary. The alleged intent was to tarnish V. P. Singh's image. This supposedly happened in 1989. However, only after Rao's term as PM had expired in 1996, was he formally charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the crime. Less than a year later, the court acquitted him due to lack of evidence linking him with the case.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121106052416/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-10-25/india/27143956_1_chandraswami-first-trust-corporation-forgery-case St Kitts case: Chronology of events]. The Times of India (25 October 2004). Retrieved 2 March 2007.

Lakhubhai Pathak, an Indian businessman living in England, alleged that Chandraswami and K. N. Aggarwal alias Mamaji, along with Rao, cheated him out of $100,000. The amount was given for an express promise for allowing supplies of paper pulp in India, and Pathak alleged that he spent an additional $30,000 entertaining Chandraswami and his secretary. Narasimha Rao and Chandraswami were acquitted of the charges in 2003 and before his death, Rao was acquitted of all the cases charged against him.{{cite news | last= Kumar | first= Nirnimesh | date= 23 December 2003 | url= http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/23/stories/2003122308160100.htm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040219042551/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/23/stories/2003122308160100.htm | url-status= dead | archive-date= 19 February 2004 | title= Rao acquitted in Lakhubhai Pathak case | newspaper= The Hindu | access-date= 2 March 2007}}

In spite of significant achievements in a difficult situation, in the 1996 general elections the Indian electorate voted out Rao's Congress Party. Soon, Sonia Gandhi's supporters forced Rao to step down as Party President.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} He was replaced by Sitaram Kesri.

Rao rarely spoke of his personal views and opinions during his 5-year tenure. After his retirement from national politics, he published a novel called The Insider.{{sfn|P V N Rao|2000|p=}} The book, which follows a man's rise through the ranks of Indian politics, resembles events from Rao's own life.

File:The Mauritius Prime Minister, Mr. Anerood Jugannath greeting the Union Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the dinner hosted in the former's honour, by Prime Minister Shri P. V. Narasimha New Delhi on July 24, 1991.jpg

According to a vernacular source, despite holding many influential posts in the Government, he faced many financial troubles. One of his sons was educated with the assistance of his son-in-law. He also faced trouble paying fees for a daughter who was studying medicine.{{cite web|url=http://telugu.greatandhra.com/cinema/11-04-2010/39a_04_nin.php|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424002302/http://telugu.greatandhra.com/cinema/11-04-2010/39a_04_nin.php|title=Nindalapaalaina Aparachanukyudu-2|work=Telugu.greatandhra.com|access-date=10 July 2012}} According to P. V. R. K. Prasad, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who was Narasimha Rao's media advisor when the latter was Prime Minister, Rao asked his friends to sell away his house at Banjara Hills to clear the dues of lawyers.P V Krishna Rao (4 January 2010). [http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article218025.ece PV made scapegoat in Babri case] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021033606/http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article218025.ece |date=21 October 2013 }}. newindianexpress.com

File:Army, Navy & Air Force personnels, the three wings of services, carrying the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Late Shri P V Narasimha Rao towards service aircraft at Palam Airport, New Delhi on December 24.jpg

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File:The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam paying tributes at the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister Late Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on December 23, 2004.jpg

Rao suffered a heart attack on 9 December 2004, and was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he died 14 days later at the age of 83.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041230182813/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/24/stories/2004122408870100.htm Narasimha Rao passes away at the age of 83]. Hindu.com (24 December 2004). Retrieved 10 July 2012.{{cite news|last1=Sitapati|first1=Vinay|title=Day after Babri Masjid demolition, Narasimha Rao kept tabs on Sonia Gandhi courtesy the IB|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/day-after-babri-demolition-narasimha-rao-kept-tabs-on-sonia-gandhi-courtesy-the-ib-2872490/|access-date=22 August 2016|issue=24 June 2016|publisher=The INdian Express|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813115851/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/day-after-babri-demolition-narasimha-rao-kept-tabs-on-sonia-gandhi-courtesy-the-ib-2872490/|url-status=live}} His funeral was attended by the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, the Home Affairs Minister Shivraj Patil, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L. K. Advani, the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and many other dignitaries. Rao was a long-time widower, since his wife died in 1970 and he was survived by his eight children.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041231060007/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/26/stories/2004122605320100.htm Nation bids adieu to Narasimha Rao]. The Hindu. A memorial was built for P. V. Narasimha Rao located adjacent to Sanjeevaiah Park, developed in 2005 on {{convert|2.9|acre|order=flip}} of land known as Gyan Bhumi.[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article19166407.ece PVNARASIMHARAO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407102407/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article19166407.ece |date=7 April 2023 }}, The Hindu, 29 June 2017 The Government of Telangana declared his birthday to be celebrated as a Telangana State function in 2014.{{cite web|title=PVNR Birth Celebrations a State function|url=http://deccan-journal.com/content/pvnr-birthday-declared-state-function-telangana|work=Deccan-Journal|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162329/http://deccan-journal.com/content/pvnr-birthday-declared-state-function-telangana|url-status=live}} Seven days of state mourning was declared upon his death.{{cite web | title=Welcome to Embassy of India, Washington D C, USA | website=Welcome to Embassy of India, Washington D C, USA | date=8 February 2024 | url=https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ArchivesDetails?id=457 | ref={{sfnref | Welcome to Embassy of India, Washington D C, USA| 2024}} | access-date=9 February 2024 | archive-date=29 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729103436/https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/ArchivesDetails?id=457 | url-status=live }}

In 2015, Narasimha Rao was accorded a memorial in Delhi at Ekta Sthal, which is now integrated with Rashtriya Smriti, a common place for erecting memorials for former Presidents, PMs and others. The memorial is raised on a plinth in marble bearing text highlighting briefly his contributions. The plaque describes Rao: "Known as the scholar Prime Minister of India, Shri P V Narasimha Rao was born on 28 June 1921 in Vangara, Karimnagar District in Telangana state. He rose to prominence as a freedom fighter who fought the misrule of the Nizam during the formative years of his political career. A reformer, educationist, scholar, conversant in 15 languages and known for his intellectual contribution, he was called the 'Brihaspati' (wiseman) of Andhra Pradesh."{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/10-years-after-death-Narasimha-Rao-gets-memorial-in-Delhi/articleshow/47868463.cms|title=10 years after death, Narasimha Rao gets memorial in Delhi | India News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=30 June 2015|access-date=31 December 2019|archive-date=22 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422084315/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/10-years-after-death-Narasimha-Rao-gets-memorial-in-Delhi/articleshow/47868463.cms|url-status=live}}

• {{flag|India}}:
• 50px Bharat Ratna (9 February 2024, posthumous){{Cite news |title=PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, MS Swaminathan to get Bharat Ratna: PM Modi |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/former-pms-narasimha-rao-chaudhary-charan-singh-and-ms-swaminathan-to-get-bharat-ratna-pm-modi-101707462720479.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=9 February 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024}}

Rao was honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (posthumously) on 9 February 2024 by the Government of India. Rao was awarded the Pratibha Murthy Lifetime Achievement Award.{{cite magazine |title=Former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao awarded Pratibha Murthy Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/signposts/story/20020121-former-prime-minister-awarded-796128-2002-01-21 |access-date=1 May 2022 |magazine=India Today |date=21 January 2002 |language=en |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923193438/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/signposts/story/20020121-former-prime-minister-awarded-796128-2002-01-21 |url-status=live }} Many people across the party line supported the name of P. V. Narasimha Rao for Bharat Ratna. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao supported the move to give Bharat Ratna to Rao.{{Cite news|last=PTI|date=28 June 2014|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/kcr-bats-for-bharat-ratna-to-narasimha-rao/article6158106.ece|title=KCR bats for Bharat Ratna to Narasimha Rao|access-date=31 December 2019|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231124920/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/kcr-bats-for-bharat-ratna-to-narasimha-rao/article6158106.ece|url-status=live}} BJP leader Subramanian Swamy supported the move to give Bharat Ratna to Rao.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Anuraag |title=Swamy seeks Bharat Ratna for ex-PM PV Narsimha Rao |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Swamy-seeks-Bharat-Ratna-for-ex-PM-PV-Narsimha-Rao/articleshow/46329563.cms |access-date=31 December 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=22 February 2015 |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706024343/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Swamy-seeks-Bharat-Ratna-for-ex-PM-PV-Narsimha-Rao/articleshow/46329563.cms |url-status=live }} Earlier in 2015, Sanjay Baru said that former PM Manmohan Singh wanted to give Bharat Ratna to Rao but failed.{{cite news |last1=Dhawan |first1=Himanshi |title=Manmohan wanted to give Bharat Ratna to Atal, Narasimha Rao but failed: Baru |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manmohan-wanted-to-give-bharat-ratna-to-atal-narasimha-rao-but-failed-baru/articleshow/45723360.cms |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=2 January 2015 |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201052408/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manmohan-wanted-to-give-bharat-ratna-to-atal-narasimha-rao-but-failed-baru/articleshow/45723360.cms |url-status=live }}

In September 2020, Telangana Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution seeking to confer Bharat Ratna on Rao. The resolution also requested the Central Government to rename the University of Hyderabad after him.{{Cite news|last=Rajeev|first=M.|date=8 September 2020|title=Telangana Assembly adopts resolution seeking Bharat Ratna for P.V. Narasimha Rao|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/assembly-adopts-resolution-seeking-bharat-ratna-for-pv-narasimha-rao/article32553264.ece|access-date=14 September 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909033402/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/assembly-adopts-resolution-seeking-bharat-ratna-for-pv-narasimha-rao/article32553264.ece|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=8 September 2020|title=Telangana assembly proposes Bharata Ratna for PV Narasimha Rao|url=https://www.siasat.com/telangana-assembly-proposes-bharata-ratna-for-pv-narasimha-rao-1968449/|access-date=13 February 2021|website=The Siasat Daily|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116062234/https://www.siasat.com/telangana-assembly-proposes-bharata-ratna-for-pv-narasimha-rao-1968449/|url-status=live}}

In 1931, the 10-year-old Narasimha Rao was married to Satyamma, a girl of his own age, belonging to his own community and coming from a family of a similar background.{{cite book |last1=Sitapati |first1=Vinay |title=The Man who Remade India: A Biography of P.V. Narasimha Rao |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-069285-8 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUxUDwAAQBAJ&dq=P.+V.+Narasimha+Rao+married+in+1931&pg=PA16 |language=en |access-date=11 March 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209130638/https://books.google.com/books?id=oUxUDwAAQBAJ&dq=P.+V.+Narasimha+Rao+married+in+1931&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q=P.%20V.%20Narasimha%20Rao%20married%20in%201931&f=false |url-status=live }} They were married for the entirety of their lives. Smt. Satyamma died on 1 July 1970.

The couple had three sons and five daughters. Their eldest son, P. V. Ranga Rao, was the education minister in Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy's cabinet and an MLA from Hanamakonda Assembly Constituency, in Warangal District for two terms. The second son, P. V. Rajeshwar Rao, was a Member of Parliament of the 11th Lok Sabha (15 May 1996 – 4 December 1997) from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok11/biodata/11ap35.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812105543/http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok11/biodata/11ap35.htm |archive-date=12 August 2010 |title=Biographical Sketch of P.V. Rajeshwar Rao |publisher=Parliament of India |access-date=30 March 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mipgs.ac.in/pvrajeswararao.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721150223/http://www.mipgs.ac.in/pvrajeswararao.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 |title=Sri. P.V. Rajeswara Rao |publisher=Matrusri Institute of P.G. Studies |access-date=30 March 2010}} The third son is P.V. Prabhakara Rao.

The five daughters of P.V. Narasimha Rao are Smt. N. Sharada Devi, wife of Sri N. Venkata Krishna Rao; Smt. K. Saraswathi Devi, wife of K. Sarath Chandra Rao; Smt. S. Vani Devi, wife of Sri S. Divakara Rao; Smt. Vijaya Somayaji, wife of Sri Ramakrishna Somayaji; and Smt. K. Jaya Devi, wife of Sri K. Revathi Nandan.

On the occasion of 25 years of economic liberalisation in India, there have been several books published by authors, journalists and civil servants evaluating Rao's contributions.{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=C Rammanohar |title=Questions about Narasimha Rao |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/Questions-about-Narasimha-Rao/article16078032.ece |access-date=18 May 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=22 October 2016 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725012533/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/Questions-about-Narasimha-Rao/article16078032.ece |url-status=live }} While Vinay Sitapati's book Half Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao transformed India (2016) gives a renewed biographical picture of his entire life,{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Smita |title=In the pantheon of heroes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/In-the-pantheon-of-heroes/article14477852.ece |access-date=18 May 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2016 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726202346/https://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/In-the-pantheon-of-heroes/article14477852.ece |url-status=live }} Sanjay Baru's book 1991: How P V Narasimha Rao made history (2016){{cite news |last1=Hebbar |first1=Nistula |title=Politicians were the heroes of 1991 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/%E2%80%98Politicians-were-the-heroes-of-1991%E2%80%99/article14662362.ece |access-date=18 May 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=26 September 2016 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410184632/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/%E2%80%98Politicians-were-the-heroes-of-1991%E2%80%99/article14662362.ece |url-status=live }} and Jairam Ramesh's book From the brink to back: India's 1991 story (2015){{cite news |last1=M |first1=Ramesh |title=Narasimha Rao-Manmohan Singh jugalbandi saved India: Jairam Ramesh |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/narasimha-raomanmohan-singh-jugalbandi-saved-india-jairam-ramesh/article7680560.ece |access-date=18 May 2020 |publisher=The Hindu Businessline |date=23 September 2015 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207033156/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/narasimha-raomanmohan-singh-jugalbandi-saved-india-jairam-ramesh/article7680560.ece |url-status=live }} focuses on his role in unleashing the reforms in the year 1991 as the Prime Minister of India.

Rao's mother tongue was Telugu, and he had an excellent command of Marathi. In addition to nine Indian languages (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Odia, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu), he spoke Arabic, English, French, German, Persian and Spanish.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1479685/PV-Narasimha-Rao.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1479685/PV-Narasimha-Rao.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=PV Narasimha Rao |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 December 2004 |access-date=22 May 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/24/guardianobituaries.india |title=PV Narasimha Rao |work=The Guardian |date=24 December 2004 |last=Brown |first=Derek |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=28 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828224716/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/24/guardianobituaries.india |url-status=live }} He was able to speak 17 languages.{{cite news|title=PVN – Obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/24/guardianobituaries.india|access-date=17 November 2013|date=23 December 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828224716/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/24/guardianobituaries.india|archive-date=28 August 2013}}{{cite news|title='PV': A scholar, a statesman|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/23rao2.htm|access-date=17 November 2013|date=23 December 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407134414/http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/23rao2.htm|archive-date=7 April 2010|quote=A Sahitya Ratan in Hindi, Rao was fluent in several languages, including Spanish.}} Due to his college education in Fergusson College in Pune, then an affiliated college of the University of Mumbai (but now with Pune University), he became a very prolific reader and speaker of Marathi. He translated the great Telugu literary work Veyipadagalu of Kavi Samraat Viswanatha Satyanarayana into Hindi as Sahasraphan. He also translated Hari Narayan Apte's Marathi novel Pan Lakshat Kon Gheto (But Who Pays Attention?) into Telugu. He was also invited to be the chief guest of Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sanmelan, where he gave a speech in Marathi.

In his later life, he wrote his autobiography, The Insider, which depicts his experiences in politics.

In June 2020, Government of Telangana, led by Telangana Rashtra Samithi has declared to organise one-year-long centenary celebrations of Rao. The state government also decided to set up a memorial and five bronze statues at various places, including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Vangara and Delhi.{{Cite web|date=23 June 2020|title=Telangana to observe year-long centenary celebrations of PV Narasimha Rao from June 28|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/telangana-to-observe-year-long-centenary-celebrations-of-pv-narasimha-rao-from-june-28-2291603.html|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Zee News|language=en|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730011521/https://zeenews.india.com/india/telangana-to-observe-year-long-centenary-celebrations-of-pv-narasimha-rao-from-june-28-2291603.html|url-status=live}}

In the year 2019, an independent biographical documentary film named P V: Change with Continuity (2019) directed and produced by Sravani Kotha and Srikar Reddy Gopaladinne released on the streaming platform Vimeo.{{cite web|last1=title|first1=IMDB|title=PV: Change with Continuity|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11598270/|access-date=18 May 2020|website=IMDB|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415122131/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11598270/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Kotha|first1=Sravani|title=PV: Change with Continuity|url=https://vimeo.com/ondemand/pvchangewithcontinuity|access-date=18 May 2020|website=www.vimeo.com|publisher=Vimeo}}{{cite web|last1=Audio|first1=Madhura|title=PV NARASIMHA RAO – Change With Continuity Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0IM7iPm_io| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/-0IM7iPm_io| archive-date=30 October 2021|access-date=18 May 2020|website=Youtube|date=31 March 2019 |publisher=Madhura Audio}}{{cbignore}} The documentary features rare archival footage and interviews of several distinguished people closely related to Rao's life and work.{{cite news|last1=Dundoo|first1=Sangeetha Devi|date=22 April 2019|title=A film for the archives|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/electrical-engineers-sravani-and-srikar-discuss-their-documentary-pv-narasimha-rao-change-with-continuity/article26910770.ece|access-date=18 May 2020|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423132705/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/electrical-engineers-sravani-and-srikar-discuss-their-documentary-pv-narasimha-rao-change-with-continuity/article26910770.ece|url-status=live}}

Suresh Kumar appeared as Rao in the 2019 film NTR: Mahanayakudu directed by Krish which charts the life of the Indian actor-politician N. T. Rama Rao.{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=22 February 2019|title='NTR Mahanayakudu' review: A raging political storm|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ntr-mahanayakudu-review-the-silent-show-stealer-is-young-chandrababu-naidu/article26339701.ece|access-date=11 June 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611135709/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ntr-mahanayakudu-review-the-silent-show-stealer-is-young-chandrababu-naidu/article26339701.ece|url-status=live}} The same year, Ajit Satbhai portrayed Rao as the former Prime Minister of India in the film The Accidental Prime Minister by Vijay Gutte, about Manmohan Singh.{{Cite news|title=The Accidental Prime Minister|work=Kinopoisk|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/accidental-prime-minister-the-2018-1078876/cast/|access-date=22 August 2018|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822145421/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/accidental-prime-minister-the-2018-1078876/cast/|url-status=live}}

Pradhanmantri ({{Literal translation|Prime Minister}}), a 2013 Indian docudrama television series which aired on ABP News and covers the various policies and political tenures of Indian PMs, based the twentieth episode – "P. V. Narasimha Rao and Corruption charges against him" – on his term as the country's leader; Ravi Jhankal portrayed the role of Rao.{{Cite web|date=24 November 2013|title=Pradhanmantri – Episode 20 on PV Narasimha Rao|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzkzwFwnbWQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/CzkzwFwnbWQ| archive-date=30 October 2021|website=ABP News}}{{cbignore}}

• 1993 Bombay bombings
• Demolition of the Babri Masjid
• 1993 Latur earthquake
• The Insider (Rao novel)
• P.V. Narasimha Rao Expressway
• List of heads of state and government who were later imprisoned

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation |last=Rao |first=P V N |title=The Insider |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0140271171 |ref={{sfnref|P V N Rao|2000}} }}
• {{citation |last=Reddy |first=Narendra |title=P.V. Narasimha Rao, years of power |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAVuAAAAMAAJ |year=1993 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=9788124101360 |language=en }}
• {{citation |last=Sitapati |first=Vinay |title=Half - Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2yCDAAAQBAJ |date=27 June 2016 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |via=Google Books |isbn=9789386057723 }}

• The Quest For Peace with Kotha Satchidananda Murthy (1986)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170216101521/http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article5438.html The Great Suicide] written pseudonymously (1990) {{Cite web|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/rao-singh-and-the-great-suicide/|title=Rao, Singh and the Great Suicide|first=Ashok|last=Malik|website=ORF|access-date=31 December 2019}}
• India and the Asia-Pacific: Forging a New Relationship (1994)
• The Insider (1998)
• A Long Way: Selected Speeches (2002)
• Ayodhya 6 December 1992 published posthumously (2006)
• Half – Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati (2016), Retitled in 2018 when released by Oxford University Press as The Man Who Remade India: A Biography of P.V. Narasimha Rao by Vinay Sitapathi
• 1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History by Sanjaya Baru (2016)
• Narasimha Rao: Unsung Hero by Krishna Mohan Sharma (2017)
• {{citation |last=P. V. Narasimha Rao|year=2006|title=Ayodhya 6 December 1992|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=0670058580}}
• Shukla, Subhash. "Foreign Policy Of India Under Narasimha Rao Government" (PhD dissertation, U of Allahabad, 1999) [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.14466 online free], bibliography pp 488–523.
• Singh, Sangeeta. "Trends in India's Foreign Policy: 1991–2009." (PhD dissertation, Aligarh Muslim University, 2016) [https://web.archive.org/web/20190328230921/http://ir.amu.ac.in/11775/1/T10126.pdf online]

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