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Major DP Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

BirthplaceJagadhari, Yamunanagar district, Haryana

ProfessionRetired Indian Army officer, Social Activist, Athlete

NationalityIndian

FamilySon - Tegsimar Singh; Mother - Gurdeep Kaur; Sister - Simmi Gill Virk; Father - former GREF employee (name not known)

Major DP Singh Biography

Major Devender Pal (DP) Singh is a retired Indian Army officer, para-athlete and social activist. Injured during the Kargil conflict, he later became India

Early life and background

Devender Pal Singh, popularly known as Major DP Singh, was born in Jagadhari in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. He attended Kendriya Vidyalaya in Roorkee and went on to study through distance learning, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also completed a postgraduate management qualification and has listed Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut among his education credentials. Singh adheres to Sikhism and is an Indian national.

Military career and injury

Singh joined the Indian Military Academy in June 1996 and was commissioned into the Indian Army on 6 December 1997. He served with the 7th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment and later with the Army Ordnance Corps. During his service he held leadership roles including platoon commander as a captain and company commander as a major.

In July 1999, while on operations during the Kargil conflict, Singh was gravely wounded by a mortar blast while leading an attack on a Pakistani bunker. The blast caused severe damage that led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee; surgeons also removed dozens of shrapnel fragments from his body. He was assessed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident. After his injuries, he was transferred from frontline infantry duties to the Army Ordnance Corps and continued to serve until his retirement from the Indian Army in 2007.

Career after the army

Following his retirement, Singh joined ICICI Bank as a training manager, where he worked on employee training programs and training policy until 2015. Over time he transitioned into public roles as an advocate for amputees and people with disabilities, building a profile as a para-athlete and motivational speaker.

Para-athletics and records

Ten years after his injury, Singh began running with a prosthetic blade and went on to become known as India’s first blade runner. He completed his first half-marathon (21 kilometres) in New Delhi in 2009 and later became the first Indian blade runner to complete a high-altitude half-marathon in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, in 2014 at 11,700 feet.

Singh faced significant physical challenges while adapting to blade running, including abrasions and pain at his stump, but persisted to take part in marathons and athletic events across India. He has been recognized in national record compilations and received multiple honours for his sporting achievements.

Advocacy and The Challenging Ones

In 2011 Singh founded The Challenging Ones (TCO), an NGO focused on supporting amputees. By mid-2022 the organization had registered more than 1,400 amputees and ran peer-support initiatives that connected newly injured people with others who had lived through similar experiences. Singh has described TCO’s outreach as including direct visits to newly injured patients and supporting their reintegration into active life.

Parachute diving, public roles and ambassadorships

Singh expanded his endeavours beyond running. In 2018, after training at the Indian Army’s Adventure Wing in Nashik, he completed an Accelerated Free Fall solo para-diving jump, becoming the first Asian disabled veteran to perform a solo para-diving event. He has been invited to speak at national and international fora, including a United Nations event titled ACT NOW, and has taken part in public commemorations such as carrying the victory flame for Kargil Vijay Diwas in 2019.

Brands and representation

Major DP Singh has served as a brand ambassador for campaigns aimed at athletes with disabilities. In 2015 he was associated with a global run initiative through Red Bull, and in 2016 he was selected by Adidas for an initiative focused on amputee athletes.

Public profile

Singh has been the recipient of multiple awards and honours recognizing his courage, sporting achievements and advocacy. These include national recognition for work in empowering persons with disabilities and entries in national record publications for his running and parachute achievements. He has participated as a guest speaker on platforms such as TEDx and other televised and radio interview formats.

Latest updates

In the late 2010s and early 2020s Singh continued his public activity: he ran in national marathons such as the Territorial Army and Athletic Federation of India event, delivered talks on transformation and resilience, and in 2021 took part in an international TEDx event as a speaker. He was also invited by the Indian Navy to participate in a commemorative half-marathon. Throughout these years he has remained active in athletic, advocacy and motivational roles while leading The Challenging Ones.
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Recent Work

Accelerated Free Fall solo para-diving stunt

Completed first solo para-diving event after training at the Indian Army's Adventure Wing in Nashik, becoming the first Asian disabled veteran to do so.

2018
Founded The Challenging Ones (TCO)

Established an NGO supporting amputees; organization had over 1,400 amputees by July 2022.

2011
High-altitude half-marathon, Kinnaur

Became the first Indian blade runner to complete a high-altitude half-marathon at 11,700 feet.

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. Commissioned into the Indian Army on 6 December 1997; served with the Dogra Regiment and Army Ordnance Corps
  2. Injured in July 1999 during Kargil conflict; sustained extensive shrapnel wounds and right-leg amputation
  3. Became India's first blade runner and completed national and high-altitude marathons
  4. Founded The Challenging Ones (TCO) to support amputees
  5. First Asian disabled veteran to perform a solo Accelerated Free Fall para-diving jump (2018)
  6. Served as brand ambassador for initiatives by Red Bull and Adidas
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Major DP Singh known for?

Retired Indian Army officer, Social Activist, Athlete