Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Mr Singh, who was widely regarded as the architect of the country's economic reform programme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to the former prime minister on Friday (December 27) as the country began a seven-day period of mourning for its “reluctant king”, a title the soft-spoken Singh earned during his first stint as the country's leader.

Authorities in India have declared a seven-day mourning period to honor Manmohan Singh as politicians and public paid tributes to the country’s former prime minister widely regarded as the architect o