Career
He succeeded his father, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala on 23 March 1938, but agreed to the incorporation of the princely state into India on 5 May 1948. He was Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union until it was merged with Punjab in 1956.
He was a noted horticulturist by passion and later served as Chairman of Indian Horticulture Development Council. He was also the president of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).
He continued his career from 1956 onwards, serving as Indian delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1956–1957 and to UNESCO in 1958. He also headed the Indian delegation to the FAO on and off from 1959-1969.