Punia, is an Indian politician and Member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh since 2014.
He was member of the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014 and represented Barabanki (Lok Sabha constituency).
He is a Dalit leader of the Indian National Congress party.
He was also chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes between 2013-16 and as such sat ex officio on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).In July 2012, Punia appeared in the popular TV show Satyamev Jayate, hosted by Bollywood star Aamir Khan, to raise awareness of discrimination against scheduled castes.