On Republic Day of 2020 he received India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan.
He started his political career in 1996 with the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference where he held the position of Vice-Chairman.
In 2002, he fought the Legislative Assembly election with the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party and won from Baramulla constituency.
Due to differences between him and Mehbooba Mufti, that grew after the abrogation of Article 370, It was being allegedly said that Baig joined Sajjad Lone's Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference,[5][6] Peoples Conference disowns senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig.
In 2020, Baig was conferred the Padma Bhushan award, the third-highest civilian honor of India.