Veteran Congress leader and former President Pranab Mukherjee died in Delhi at the age of 84 on Monday, confirmed by a tweet from his son Abhijeet Mukherjee. He was admitted to Army Hospital earlier this month after having undergone emergency life-saving surgery from a brain clot. He had also tested positive for coronavirus. Pranab Mukherjee served as President from 2012 to 2017.
In the United Progressive Alliance government, Mukherjee had been a Minister of Cabinet. From 1982 to 1984, he served as Finance Minister in the Indira Gandhi Government, and from 1995 to 1996 was Foreign Minister in the Narasimha Rao Government. Mr. Mukherjee has also worked on the International Monetary Fund and World Bank boards. Much of his career was with the Congress party, which for decades dominated Indian politics before suffering two consecutive losses in 2014.
He received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 2019. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the second-highest civilian award. He served as finance minister between 2009 and 2012, defense minister (2004-2006), External Affairs minister (2006-2009).