Birth & Educations: 23 February 1968 at Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. He educated B. Sc. Ag. from Kanpur University, Kanpur in 1988, M.Sc. Ag in Mycology & Plant Pathology from Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi in 1990 and Ph. D. in 1995 in Mycology & Plant Pathology from Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi

Positions hold: I joined ARS services in January 20, 1997 at IIVR, Varanasi as scientist and then I was in CIPHET, Abohar (Punjab) from 19^th Feb. 1997 to 23^rd July 2006 on the post of scientist and scientist (Sr. Scale). I joined ICAR- IARI, New Delhi on 24^th July 2006 and promoted as principal scientist on 20th January 2012 and continued up to 12^th July 2023.  I am holding the post as Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR- IISR, Lucknow since 13^th July 2023.

Awards/Honours: I have been awarded as Dr. M. M. Alam Medal, Young Scientist Associate Award, Late Shri P. P. Shinghal Memorial Award, J. P. Varma Memorial lecture Award, Reviewer Excellence, Award for Excellent in Research, Distinguished Scientist in Plant Pathology Award, Best Faculty Award, NESA Green Technology Innovative Award and B. P. Pal Memorial Best Scientist Award from various professional societies and agencies. 

Fellow: I have been honoured as NESA Fellowship, NABS Fellow, IPS Fellow, SPPS Fellow, Bioved Fellowship Award, Honorary Fellowship, ISHRD Fellowship, Fellow of Asian PGPR Society.

Research Areas: A significant contribution in developing multiplex - PCR based sensitive, specific and reliable protocol was done for simultaneous detection of Ralstonia solanacearum and Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora from potato tubers. Bio-PCR based protocol with highly sensitive and reliable method has been developed to detect and manage the devastating Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice seeds; Ralstonia solanacearum in asymptomatic tomato plants, irrigation water and soil; X. campestris pv. campestris from cauliflower seeds and planting material and X. axonopodis pv. punicae from propagating material of pomegranate. Races of X. campestris pv. campestris, Ralstonia solanacearum and X. euvesicatoria from India were characterized. Whole genome sequences of X. campestris pv. campestris race 4 and R. solanacearum race 1 phylotype 1 were successfully completed. Bio-control formulations based on Pseudomonas fluorescens DTPF-3, Bacillus subtilis DTBS -5 and B. amyloliquefaciens DSBA-11 have been developed for effective eco-friendly management of many fungal and bacterial diseases of crops. I have been involved in developing two acid lime varieties (Pusa Abhinav and Pusa Udit), two Indian bean varieties (Pusa Sem Lal (DB-5) & Pusa Sem- 6), three germplasm of cauliflower (BR 161-INGR21057 & BR-207(INGR21217). One of his hot water dip technique was found to be excellent for preservation of kinnow fruits upto three months with good quality.

Guiding M. Sc. & Ph.D. students & Publication: Presently, total google citation index of 5627, h-index 24 and i-10 index 57 are in my credit. I guided 9 Ph. D. and 3 M. Sc. students in the field of plant bacteriology and published 180 research papers in pear reviewed reputed journals, 44 popular articles, 32 books, 103 book chapters, 5 technical bulletins, 9 training manuals and 2 practical manuals and 1 extension bulletin.

Contribution in IPS: I served the society in various capacity as councillor (2008-09), treasurer (2011-16) and secretary (2017-19). As secretary, I improved the financial health of by adding profit of Rs. 38.6 Lakh to the society, increased 537 life of member, organised 3 international conferences including Thailand, 2 special symposium, 15 national and zonal symposium, six workshop/ brainstorming session/special lecture in different parts of the country to enhance visibility of the society. Agreement with Springer (India) Pvt. Ltd, initiation of IPS Newsletter (Indian Phytopath), publication of 9 books, annual report of the society (2016- 2019), IPS member directory and IPS profile were done during 2017-31^st January 2020.