Manral (b 1949) is MA in Economics from Agra University. He has also completed two certificate courses in Arabic and Urdu from JNU and an UNFPA - PII course on Development Journalism.

He participated in one-week training workshop related to the cultural Indicators collaborative project at Annenberg School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.

He also attended a training programme on "Gender and Development" at Uttar Pradesh Academy of Administration, Nainital and a UNICEF Audience Research Training Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal.

He has undertaken many research projects on mass communication, health, education and water and sanitation. His publications include research-based papers in magazines.