Birth & Educations: Born at Udhampur, did schooling from class I to XII from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jyotipuram (J&K). Did B.Sc. (Agri.) from M.D.S University Ajmer in the year 1995, securing first position in the University. Did M.Sc. (Plant Pathology) from R.C.A Udaipur (erstwhile R.A.U. Bikaner) in 1997 securing first position and University Gold medal. Did Ph.D from SKUAST-J in 2006 and received University merit Scholarship. Qualified NET in 2005.

Positions hold: Served as A.E.O in Department of Agriculture, Govt. of J&K from 1997 to 2002, Assistant Professor from 2005 to 2017, Associate Professor from 2017 to 2020 and serving as Professor from 2020 onwards till date. Incharge Mushroom Unit, SKUAST-Jammu since 2007.

Awards / Honours: Recipient of University Merit Certificate for securing first position in University during B.Sc. (Agri.); Gold medal for securing first position in M.Sc. (Plant Pathology); University Merit scholarship during Ph.D.; P.P. Singhal Pesticides India Award (second best) of ISMPP; P.R. Verma Award for best M.Sc. Dissertation; Fellowship under Netherlands Fellowship Program for international training program; Mashav fellowship from Govt. of Israel for international training program; Fellowship from MOST, Govt. of China for international training program; Summer Research Fellowship from INSA

Fellow: Indian Phytopathological Society

Research Areas: Mushroom Biology