Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Sharma was born on 12 January 1964. He is a Professor of Commerce at the University of Lucknow and holds a Ph.D. in the field of the paper industry in India, with special reference to Uttar Pradesh. He has served as an academician, researcher and administrator, and has authored six books and published more than three dozen research papers. He has also supervised the research work of more than thirteen scholars leading to the award of Ph.D. degrees. He has undertaken academic and professional visits to several countries, including the United States of America, Mauritius, Israel and Nepal, for presenting research papers and delivering addresses at international seminars and conferences.

Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Sharma has held several important public and organisational positions during his distinguished career. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2017 to 2022, with portfolios including Secondary Education, Higher Education, Science & Technology, Electronics and Information Technology. He also served as National Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party and In-charge of Gujarat Pradesh from 2014 to 2018, and as National Membership In-charge of the party during 2014–15. He served as Mayor of Lucknow from 2006 to 2012 and again from 2012 to 18 March 2017, and was associated with the U.P. Mayor Council. He has also served as a Member of the Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh, Member of the Rajya Sabha, National and State-level election coordinator/in-charge, and in various parliamentary committees and consultative committees of the Government of India. His earlier organisational responsibilities include serving as President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Uttar Pradesh, and holding various responsibilities in the Vidyarthi Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party.

In recognition of his public service and contribution to society, Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Sharma has received several honours, including the “Most Honourable Mayor” recognition at the World Mayors Conference in Jerusalem, the I.C.N.Y.P. Award associated with youth-related work, and the “Peace Ambassador” award of the Universal Peace Federation, Korea. His achievement of securing a record number of votes in the Lucknow mayoral election was also recorded in the Limca Book of Records. He has served on various national institutions and committees, including the National Youth Commission, Government of India, and has been associated with several educational, social and cultural organisations. He is also a Life Member of the World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES), U.S.A.