Amar Singh (Punjab politician)

Singh was born into a Ramdasia Sikh family of Malkit Singh and Gurdev Kaur from village Boparai Kalan in Ludhiana district. He is married to Kuldeep Kaur dhillon and they have a two sons together.^[3][4] His father, Malkit Singh, used to run a shoe shop in Bhikhiwind before he and his wife were murdered.^[5]

He completed his MBBS at Amritsar Medical College. He was selected for Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) and worked as a doctor in Samrala. After that, he joined the civil service as an IAS officer and served as secretary to Madhya Pradesh, CM, for 10 years.^[6] Dr. Amar Singh also served as the chairman and managing director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), one of the largest organizations in India, which plays a crucial role in India's food security. As CMD of FCI, Dr. Singh would have been heavily involved in ensuring the efficiency of the procurement and storage systems, especially considering India's vast population and the seasonal nature of agricultural production. He would also have played a pivotal role in improving the PDS, ensuring that essential food items reached the most vulnerable populations across the country.^[7]

As a Joint Secretary in the Union Government, Dr. Amar Singh was one of the instrumental figures in the conceptualization and implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This act, which came into force in 2005, guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households, providing a significant safety net for the rural poor. It aims to reduce poverty and improve rural infrastructure through wage-based work, helping millions of families across the country.^[8]

He joined Indian National Congress and was elected as a Member Parliament from Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in 2019.^[9] For the 2024 Indian general election Singh is a Congress candidate for Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency.^[10]

Dr Singh was appointed as a member of a significant diplomatic initiative that took place in May 2025 following Operation Sindoor, which was a counter-terrorism operation launched by India. As part of the aftermath of this operation, the Indian government launched and sent overseas an all-party delegation. As a member of the delegate, Dr Amar Singh underlined the Indian parties' united political stance against terrorism. "When it comes to fighting terrorism, all political parties work together.^[11][12]