Meet Dashrath Singh: Ex-Army man from Rajasthan who earned 138 degrees from IGNOU after retirement

What do you do after serving 16 years in the Army? For Dashrath Singh, the answer wasn’t rest—it was relentless learning.

A former non-commissioned officer from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, Singh has reportedly earned an astonishing 138 degrees, diplomas and certificates—many through Indira Gandhi National Open University. As per news wire agency PTI, his latest milestone came at a recent IGNOU convocation, where he completed a Master’s degree in Vedic Studies with distinction.

At 55, Singh says his academic journey is far from ordinary. He claims to have set 11 world records in education, with recognitions from organisations like the India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, Golden Book of World Records and International Book of Records.


PTI, however, has clarified that it has not independently verified the claims.

Born in Khirod village in Rajasthan’s Nawalgarh tehsil, Singh grew up in a farming family with no strong academic background. Financial challenges meant higher education once felt out of reach. After finishing Class 10 from a government school, college seemed unlikely.

But life took a different turn when he joined the Indian Army in 1988. Over the next 16 years, he served in regions including Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir before retiring in 2004.

Even during his service, Singh says he felt a constant gap—an unfinished education. Instead of ignoring it, he worked around it. During his annual two-month leave, he would dedicate time to studies, slowly building his academic base.

After retirement, that effort turned into full momentum.

He began with a Bachelor of Commerce, and went on to complete LLB, LLM, BJMC and B.Ed as a regular student. Alongside, he pursued multiple qualifications through institutions like IGNOU, Jain Vishva Bharati Institute and other universities.

His academic tally is striking: three PhDs, seven undergraduate degrees, 46 postgraduate degrees, 23 diplomas, seven military-related qualifications, and 52 certificates across disciplines.

Yet, the story doesn’t stop at collecting degrees.

After leaving the Army, Singh chose to channel his education into service. He pursued law with a clear purpose—to support fellow soldiers. Today, he works as a legal advisor with the Army’s Sapta Shakti Command, handling cases involving serving and retired personnel.