The benchmark index BSE Sensex rose 398% or almost five times between 2004 and 2014. This was the period when late Dr. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. During his tenure, the Sensex rose from 4,961 to 24,693. During this time, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in power. During his tenure, the Sensex was positive on 8 out of 10 occasions.

The highest return of 81% was recorded in 2009. It was followed by 47% returns in 2006 and 2007. The returns in 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2013 were 33%, 42%, 17%, 26% and 9% respectively. During this period, the country witnessed many major changes on the economic front.

The returns were negative in 2008, when the global slowdown caused the world order to collapse. Another year when the Sensex fell by 27% was 2011. Dr Singh was the 13th Prime Minister of India and is also the fourth longest-serving Prime Minister of India. Before him are Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who have been Prime Minister for longer periods than him.

Dr Singh also held many prestigious positions during his decades-long public life. He was a member of the Planning Commission of India in 1980–1982 and became the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during 1982–1985. In 1991, he was appointed as the Finance Minister of India under the PV Narasimha Rao government and later became the Prime Minister for two consecutive terms.

He was also the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha between 1998 and 2004.

Manmohan Singh died on Thursday, 26 December at the age of 92. He is remembered for his key role in India's 1991 economic liberalisation, which turned the country towards a market-driven economy.

Condolence messages are pouring in from all walks of life, including those involved in the stock markets. Commenting on the sudden demise of Dr Singh, VK Vijayakumar, Investment Chief Strategist, Geojit Financial Services, said, "While the nation is paying tribute to Manmohan Singh, the architect of liberalisation in India, investors should gratefully acknowledge the wealth created by the Indian stock market since the beginning of liberalisation in 1991. The Sensex, which was around 1,000 in 1991, has grown nearly 780 times since then to trade above 78,000, giving excellent returns to long-term investors.