He held a PhD, and a Diploma in Russian language and land management from the University of Cambridge.
[3] Punia had worked as a psychologist at the Indian Air Force's selection committee.
[4] In 1987, Punia won the 1987 election, with 50,882 of the total 91,066 votes, and became a member of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
[3][5] He became Government of Haryana's minister of industries, and served until his resignation in 1989 in protest to a speech delivered by Om Prakash Chautala.
[3] His brother P. L. Punia is a member of the Rajya Sabha—the upper house of the Parliament of India.