Singh was born in Patna on 24 January 1955 to Jwala Prasad Singh and Kaushalya Devi in a Bhumihar family. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur University. Singh was a General Secretary of College Students Union and in 1974, had participated in the movements led by Jayaprakash Narayan.
