Prof. (Dr.) Sasmit Patra is an academic, lawyer, media person and a politician. He is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha representing the state of Odisha and is the National Spokesperson of the Biju Janata Dal.

He is a Member of the Vice-Chairmen Panel of the Rajya Sabha, the Parliamentary Departmental Standing Committee on Human Resource Development and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Office of Profit. Prior to his appointment to the Upper House of Parliament, Professor Patra served as the Dean of the Xavier-EMLYON Business School, the first Indo-French business school in India, a joint collaboration between Xavier University, Bhubaneswar and Emlyon Business School, France.

His work experience spans academics, business research, industry, multilateral, government and corporate sectors, apart from political work and social work. Dr. Patra has a Ph.D. in Business Management, an MBA with specialization in HR, and is a Law Graduate.