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N. Biren Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

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

Quick Info

Date of birth1 January 1961

Age64 Years (as of 2025)

BirthplaceLuwangsangbam Mamang Leikai, Imphal, Manipur

ProfessionPolitician, Former Footballer, Former Journalist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseN. Hiyainu Devi

FamilyTwo sons and a daughter; daughter Anjubala Nongthongbam; son Nongthombam Ajay Singh

N. Biren Singh Biography

Nongthombam Biren Singh is an Indian politician, former journalist and former footballer who served as the Chief Minister of Manipur. He has represented He

Early life and background
Nongthombam Biren Singh was born on 1 January 1961 in Luwangsangbam Mamang Leikai, Imphal, Manipur. He grew up in the Heingang area of Manipur and completed a Bachelor of Arts from D.M. College of Arts & Commerce, Imphal in 1981. He also holds a diploma in journalism. From an early age Singh had a strong affinity for sport, particularly football, which shaped his early public life.

Career
Singh began his professional life as a footballer. As a teenager he was recruited to the Border Security Force football team and played in domestic competitions, including the Durand Cup in 1981 when the BSF side beat Mohun Bagan. He continued representing Manipur’s football team until 1992.

After leaving competitive football he entered journalism. In 1992 he founded the vernacular daily Naharolgi Thoudang and served as its editor until 2001. During his time in journalism he received recognition, including a Best State Journalist Award presented by a former chief minister of Manipur.

Singh entered electoral politics in 2002, winning the Manipur Legislative Assembly seat from Heingang the same year. He began that phase of his career with the regional Democratic Revolutionary People’s Party. When DRPP merged with the Indian National Congress in 2003, he became a Congress member and was appointed Minister of State for Vigilance in the Manipur state government. He retained his Heingang seat at successive elections in 2007 and 2012. Following the 2007 election he served as Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Rising tensions within the state Congress and his exclusion from the state cabinet after 2012 contributed to a split with the party. In 2016 Singh resigned from the Indian National Congress and the state assembly and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party later that year. He took on organisational roles within BJP Manipur Pradesh, including spokesperson and co-convener of the election management committee.

In the 2017 state elections he again won the Heingang seat, this time as a BJP candidate, and was sworn in as Manipur’s Chief Minister on 15 March 2017. He became the first BJP chief minister of Manipur. During his first term he launched initiatives such as a new academic building project for Manipur Public School and a state-level ginger festival aimed at promoting agricultural produce from underdeveloped districts. Under his leadership during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, Manipur briefly recorded a status of having recovered its early coronavirus cases.

Singh secured a decisive victory in the 2022 Legislative Assembly elections, retaining Heingang by a large margin and on 21 March 2022 was sworn in for a second consecutive term as chief minister. He submitted his resignation as chief minister to the governor on 11 March 2022 but continued as caretaker. He resigned from the chief ministership again on 9 February 2025.

Public profile
Outside politics, Singh is known as a sports enthusiast who continues to read and follow football. He has been described as a social worker who raises issues concerning the welfare of indigenous people in Manipur. His family life is part of his public profile: he is married to N. Hiyainu Devi and they have two sons and a daughter, Anjubala Nongthongbam. One son is named Nongthombam Ajay Singh; his daughter is married into a political family.

Latest updates
In 2018 Singh received the Champions of Change Award in recognition of his work, presented at a national ceremony in New Delhi. A continuing theme of his recent public activity has been promoting development projects for education and agriculture in Manipur’s districts.

Physical and personal notes
Singh’s listed height is approximately 170 cm (about 5 feet 7 inches). He is an Indian national and his hometown remains Heingang in Manipur. He has been associated with three political parties over his career: DRPP (2002–2003), the Indian National Congress (2003–2016) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (2016–present).
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Recent Work

Chief Minister of Manipur (second term)

Retained Heingang seat in 2022 and sworn in as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term on 21 March 2022; later served as caretaker and resigned in 2025.

2022-2025
Chief Minister of Manipur (first term)

Sworn in as Manipur’s Chief Minister on 15 March 2017, becoming the first BJP leader to hold the post in the state.

2017-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded the vernacular daily Naharolgi Thoudang in 1992 and served as its editor until 2001
  2. Elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from Heingang in 2002 and retained the seat in successive elections
  3. Served as Minister of State for Vigilance and later as Minister of Irrigation & Flood Control and Youth Affairs & Sports
  4. Became the first BJP Chief Minister of Manipur in 2017 and was sworn in for a second term in 2022
  5. Launched state initiatives including a school building project and a ginger festival to promote local agriculture
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was N. Biren Singh born?

1 January 1961

What is N. Biren Singh known for?

Politician, Former Footballer, Former Journalist

What is N. Biren Singh’s marital status?

Married

Who is N. Biren Singh married to?

N. Hiyainu Devi