The magazine said at a time when India cannot afford a slowdown in economic growth, "laws that could help create growth and jobs are stuck in Parliament, sparking concerns that politicians have lost the plot in their focus on shorter-term, populist measures that will win votes."
"Now that Singh is interim finance minister as well as PM, he has greater scope and a fresh opportunity to turn things around -- but it's by no means certain that he can," Time said.
Over the past 20 years, Singh's "avuncular visage and signature powder blue turban were synonymous with India's rising star, a fixture on front pages since the early 1990s, when, as finance minister, he played a pivotal role in liberalising the economy and setting the nation on the path of fast growth," the magazine said.
It said in a national capital full of bluster and backroom deals, the quiet economist has long been admired for his restraint and personal integrity. The country clocked a 9.6 per cent growth in his first term as prime minister.
"For the past two years, the Congress-led coalition has found itself fending off scandals, most notably the corrupt awarding of 2G spectrum at prices below market value," the magazine said.
