[1][2] Madan Mohan Lakhera was born in 1937 to a Brahmin family, in Village Jakhand, Tehri Garhwal, located in what is today the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

During his service in the Indian Army, MM Lakhera participated in the 1961 liberation of Goa, and the Indo Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 in the Jammu and Kashmir sector.

Eventually, Lieutenant Colonel (at the time) Lakhera rose to command the 4th Battation of the Kumaon Regiment in Jammu & Kashmir from December 1975 to July 1978.

For his successful efforts in performing varied tasks, and for his professional competence in the discharge of his duty, Lakhera was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India on 26 January 1990.

At this stage, for his success in discharging his responsibilities, Major General Lakhera was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India on 26 January 1991.

He was subsequently posted as chief of staff, Headquarters, Northern Army Command, dealing with the volatile insurgency in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

As the lieutenant governor, he was involved in organizing the government machinery to come to the immediate aid of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in Puducherry.

[9] He is married to Pushpa Lakhera, a social activist, who has taken an active part in resolving the problems of women, particularly those of the Defence Service and Ex-Service family.