Dr Nimal Kumar Singh an academician of high repute and intellect was today administered the oath as Deputy Chief Minister of the State for second time.Born on 20th January 1956 in Kranwara-Basohli in district Kathua, Dr Singh got his early education from Basohli and later pursued higher education in Jammu University. An intellectual of high calibre, Dr Singh has done doctorate in History and is considered an authority on the history of the State and country as well.An active student leader right from his teens, Dr Singh was jailed in 1975 while protesting against the emergency imposed by the then Congress regime. He was afterwards associated with ABVP and became their active member in 1977. He was later made the organizing Secretary of ABVP for J&K in 1978.Dr Singh was appointed as a Lecturer in Arya College Ludhiana, Punjab where he started his career as a teacher and was very popular among the colleagues as well as students. He also worked actively during the outbreak of militancy in the border State along with other nationalist forces for upholding the unity and integrity of the country.Afterwards, Dr Singh came back to J&K and was appointed as a Lecturer in Department of History at Jammu University where he rose to become Head of the Department.
During his tenure in the University he has acted as a guide to many scholars who have done their research on various topics related to history.In 1990, Dr Singh was appointed as a President of State Wing of ABVP and it was during this tenure that the organization was able to increase its membership besides actively participating in different social works and other philanthropic activities.A widely travelled academician, Dr Singh has attended several international conferences on varied subjects in different countries like China, Pakistan, France and has effectively projected the Indian view and perspective on various issues confronting the present context. He has also delivered extension lectures in different countries as well.Dr. Singh has also contributed immensely in the political circles of the state and has remained active member of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and has fought several parliamentary elections and was recently elected as MLA from Billawar in Kathua district. In 2002, he was appointed as a State President of the Party and it was due to his visionary and tireless efforts that it has come to fore as one of the main political parties of the State and bagged 25 seats.