Rakesh Sinha


Rakesh Sinha is an Indian academic and politician who served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, from 14 July 2018 to 13 July 2024. He has written on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and authored a government-published biography of K. B. Hedgewar.

Early life and education

Sinha was born on 5 September 1964 in Manserpur, Begusarai district, Bihar. He studied political science at the University of Delhi. Public parliamentary records list his highest qualification as Doctorate.

Academic career

Sinha has taught political science at Motilal Nehru College (Evening), University of Delhi.

Political career

On 14 July 2018, Sinha was nominated to the Rajya Sabha under Article 80 of the Constitution for a six-year term; the term ended on 13 July 2024. During his tenure he introduced several private members’ bills, including the Public Credit Registry of India Bill, 2019, the Terminated Employees Bill, 2020, and the Population Regulation Bill, 2019.
In April 2021, during the COVID-19 surge in Delhi, Sinha publicly urged the Union government to impose President’s Rule in the National Capital Territory; the remarks were reported by national outlets.
In July 2025, historian Meenakshi Jain was among four individuals nominated to the Rajya Sabha; coverage noted the appointments to the set of nominated seats, which are not constituency successions.

Positions and views

Sinha writes opinion columns in The Indian Express on constitutional and historical topics; these pieces are used only to attribute his own views. Positions expressed in interviews or op-eds include:
  • Advocacy during the pandemic for temporary central intervention in Delhi under Article 239AB.

Works

In Understanding RSS, Sinha presents a defence of the organisation and argues that it has been misrepresented by critics.

Books (selected)

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Parliamentary (private members’ bills)

  • The Public Credit Registry of India Bill, 2019 — introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 6 December 2019.
  • The Terminated Employees Bill, 2020 — introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 7 February 2020.
  • The Population Regulation Bill, 2019 — introduced 12 July 2019; withdrawn 1 April 2022.