Amrik Singh Cheema was born on 1 December 1918 at Badhai Cheema village in Sialkot district (presently in Pakistan) in the British India. He secured his master's degree in agriculture from Punjab University and a doctoral degree in Agriculture Extension from Cornell University, USA. Starting as an agricultural assistant, he pursued a notable career during which he served in various positions such as the Director of Agriculture, Faridkot State, the Joint Director of Agriculture of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Director of Agriculture of Punjab, Central Agricultural Production Commissioner and Senior Agriculturist, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). He also served as the honorary Advisor on Agriculture to the Government of India and as the vice chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
