Dr Rai has done his MBBS from the prestigious Maulana Azad medical college, Delhi. He joined Dr R P Centre for ophthalmic sciences, AIIMS for his MD, which is the topmost institute in the field of ophthalmology not only in India but around the world. His quest for academic excellence was not completed there and he did his FRCS from Royal College of physicians and surgeons Glasgow, England. He did his DNB from national board of examination, Delhi and was conferred MNAMS the same year. He has always been regarded as an excellent surgeon, clinician, academician and teacher by his colleagues and seniors. He is among the pioneers in the art of topical clear corneal phacoemulsification.