He held advanced degrees in Economics and Public Administration and a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Sidhu held a number of senior posts and represented his Government at numerous bilateral and inter-governmental negotiations in various fields.

Sidhu was an IAS officer, 1952 class of the Uttar Pradesh state cadre.

He served as the District Magistrate of Kanpur and subsequently as Commissioner of Agra Division.

Under the UPA-Congress Government of Manmohan Singh, he later became the Governor of Manipur on 6 August 2004,[9] when he succeeded Arvind Dave.