The unexpected win of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in the elections to the 15th Lok Sabha was clearly a vote for the  'Mr Clean' in Indian politics – Dr Manmohan Singh.

Millions of voters have reposed their faith in the leadership of the man who helped unshackle the Indian economy through major economic reforms and put it in the growth path.

The soft-spoken Manmohan Singh, who was sworn in today as prime minister for a second consecutive term, has also made it clear that his mandate is for good governance and that his choice of ministers will be based on performance and accountability.

The 76-year-old Manmohan combines an economist's expertise and a politician's ability to execute ideas and has held practically every important position dealing with the nation's economy and financial management.

Born on 16 September 1932 in Gah, West Punjab (now in Pakistan), Manmohan Singh, MA, D.Phil (Oxford), D Litt (Honoris Causa), studied at Panjab, Cambridge and Oxford universities.

Married in September 1958, he has three daughters - Upender, Daman and Amrit.

He has been chief economic advisor at the ministry of finance from 1972 to '76 and has held the positions of director - Reserve Bank of India; director - Industrial Development Bank of India; alternate governor for India on the board of governors of Asian Development Bank, Manila and alternate governor for India on the board of governors of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) between 1976 and 1980.

From November 1976 to April 1980 he was also secretary, ministry of finance (department of economic affairs): member, finance of Atomic Energy Commission and member, finance of Space Commission.

From April 1980 to September 1982 he was member-secretary of the planning commission. He was governor of the RBI from September 1982 to 1985 and alternate governor for India on the board of governors of International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 1982 and '85.

He became a member of the prime minister's economic advisory council during 1983-84 and was deputy chairman of the planning commission between January 1985 and July 1987.

Dr Singh was appointed secretary-general and commissioner, South Commission, Geneva between August 1987 and November 1990.

He was advisor to prime minister on economic affairs  from December 1990 to March 1991 and was made chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in March 1991.

In October 1991 he was elected to the Rajya Sabha and in May 1996, Manmohan Singh became finance minister in the Narasimha Rao ministry.

He was governor for India on the board of governors of the IMF and IBRD during 1991-95 and was re-elected to Rajya Sabha in June 1995.

He was a member of the consultative committee for the ministry of finance from August 1996 to December 1997 and  chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on commerce from 1996 onwards.

He became leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha in March 1998 and was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2001.

He became prime minister of India in May 2004.