Born in Delhi, India, on 15 February 1952, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri was educated at the University of Delhi, earning a BA (Hons) in History with First in order of Merit in 1971 and an MA in History in 1973 with First Division. He was a keen debater and served as the Prime Minister of Hindu College Parliament.

Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and had a distinguished 39-year career, serving in senior positions at the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence. Held Ambassadorial level assignments in London and Brasilia and served as Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in Geneva and New York.

Retired from the Indian Foreign Service in 2013 and joined the International Peace Institute (IPI), New York, where he served as Senior Adviser and later as Vice-President of the IPI and Secretary-General of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM).

Appointed President of the Governing Body and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS). In May 2019, he became the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. In July 2021, he became Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs.