At the age of 40, Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest Prime Minister of India after his mother Indira Gandhi was assassinated.
He was the Prime Minister from 1984 till 1989. His tenure was one full of highlights.
From Anti-defection law and Shah Bano case to bringing in revolutionary economic reforms and the Shimla agreement with the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, Rajiv Gandhi government always remained in news.
On this day in 1991 he was assassinated in a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award - The Bharat Ratna.
His imprint in Indian history and his role in making India what it is today, cannot be overlooked.
Let’s take a look at 5 innovations that Rajiv Gandhi brought to India which have since played key roles in shaping a bright future.
1.Telecom Revolution
Rajiv Gandhi is rightfully known as the father of information technology in India. As the Prime Minister of India, he established center for the development of telematics (c-dot) in 1984. C-dot helped developing state of the art telecommunication technology.
2. MTNL
Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 established Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) which later became India's single largest telecom provider. As is widely used to this day.
3. Computer
Rajiv Gandhi promoted the use of computers. He reduced import taxes and tariffs for industries to promote computer. He introduced computerised tickets for Indian railway.
4. Voting Age
Being in politics from a young age, Rajiv Gandhi knew the importance of the possible benefit of giving the youth a chance to vote and take part in the electoral process. In 1989 he lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 through the 61st amendment act.
5. Panchayati Raj
Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation of the Panchayati Raj institution. He had a vision to take democracy to the grassroots level. Even though Panchayati Raj was instituted in 1992, a year after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The framework was created during the time of Rajiv Gandhi
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