New Delhi: Former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral passed away on Friday after prolonged illness. He was 92.

Gujral was admitted to the Medicity Medanta Hospital on November 19 with a lung infection and was on ventilator. Watch: Former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral dies at 92

Announcing the demise of Gujral in Lok Sabha, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the former Indian PM passed away at 3:31 pm at the hospital in Gurgaon.

Gujral was twice foreign minister under prime ministers VP Singh and HD Deve Gowda.

He became the 12th Prime Minister of India in 1997 and was in office for almost a year.

On Monday, doctors said medicines were not showing much effect and his condition worsened. On Tuesday he fell unconscious and never gained consciousness thereafter.

He is survived by his two sons, Naresh, and Vishal Gujral, and three grandchildren. His younger brother is the famed artist and sculptor Satish Gujral.

His wife Sheila predeceased him in July 2011.

Since retiring from active politics in 1999, he wrote his autobiography "Matters of Discretion" (Hay House) and was an active figure in the strategic and literary circles.

He retained an abiding interest in Indian foreign policy and spoke widely about India's place in the world and ties with its neighbours.

Gujral, known for his impeccable dressing and manners and his trademark goatee beard, will be remembered as the proponent of the Gujral Doctrine which advocated that India, being the larger neighbour, should do twice as more for its smaller neighbours for the sake of regional peace and prosperity.