Valley Man

Son of Shri Bhag Dass Markanda; born on 17th October, 1966 at Udaipur, District Lahaul & Spiti; M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. and D.P.M., educated at HP University, Shimla; Agriculturist, Social and Political Worker.

Remained Joint Secretary, State NSUI, 1989-93; Senior Vice-President, State NSUI, 1996-97; General Secretary, H.P. Youth Congress; President, Himachal Vikas Congress, District Lahaul & Spiti; Joint Secretary, All India Tribal Association; and President, Research Scholars’ Association, HP University, Shimla.

Encouraged Youths for blood donation by donating blood 21 times himself.

Elected to the State Legislative Assembly in 1998 as HVC Candidate; re-elected in December, 2007 as BJP nominee.

Remained Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (Independent Charge) , Minister of State for Animal Husbandry (Independent charge), IPH, attached with the IPH Minister and PWD ( Additional charge) attached with Chief Minister during November 1998 to 03rd Feb. 2003.

Re-elected to the thirteenth Vidhan Sabha (3rd term ) in December, 2017;and inducted into Council of Ministers as Agriculture Minister along with portfolios of Information Technology & Tribal Development on 27th December, 2017.