Template:Infobox royalty Chaitanya Raj Singh (born 24 December 1993) is the current Maharawal of Jaisalmer and head of the Bhati clan of Rajputs.
Early life, family, and education
Singh was born on 24 December 1993 as the first child of Brijraj Singh, the Maharawal of Jaisalmer, and his wife, Raseshwari Rajya Laxmi.[1] His mother is a descendant of Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana.[2] He first studied at New Delhi's Sanskriti School and then went to SOAS University of London to study politics.[3][4]
Career
He is the founder of Everest Eco Hemp Pvt. Ltd., director of Polstrat Communications Pvt. Ltd., and director of Citta Education Foundation India.[5] He is also Chairman of the Girdhar Smark Dharmath Nyas Trust, which runs the Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum.[5] He is actively involved in promoting sustainable development, heritage restoration, education, and water conservation in Jaisalmer.[4]
Succession
Singh became Maharawal of Jaisalmer immediately upon the death of his father on 28 December 2020.[6] Traditionally, the Maharawal is also regarded as the head of the Bhati clan of Rajputs.[7][8] His coronation was held on 15 January 2021 at Jaisalmer Fort.[9][10] It was attended by members of various royal families and a large number of people.[10] The number of people who attended is estimated to be 25,000–30,000.[11] Following the completion of rituals associated with his coronation, he went to the temple of Swangiya Devi to seek her blessings.[12][9] Afterwards, he went in a procession throughout the city of Jaisalmer in an open jeep with a cavalcade of horses, camels and a band, and was warmly received by local people.[11]
His title holds no official status under Indian law.[13] The twenty-sixth amendment to the Constitution of India abolished the formal recognition of royal titles, privileges, and associated entitlements previously granted to the rulers of princely states.[13]
Engagements
On 30 August 2025, the cities of Jaisalmer and Carcassonne in Occitania, France, entered into a twinning agreement.[14][15] He attended the signing of the agreement and was made honorary citizen of Carcassonne.[15] On 5 August 2026, he asked the NCERT to remove the factually incorrect map in the Social Science textbook for Class 8 (Unit 3, page 71) that depicts Jaisalmer as part of the then Maratha Empire.[4][16] NCERT afterwards acknowledged that it received his feedback and removed the controversial map.[4][17]
References
- ↑ JAISALMER, Soszynski, Henry. members.iinet.net.au. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ The Ranas of Nepal{{#if:SJB Rana|, SJB Rana}. Timeless Books(2003)
- ↑ From Patiala's Princess Inayatinder Kaur to Jaisalmer's Chaitanya Raj, A look at India's royal reformers - From Patiala's Princess Inayatinder Kaur to Jaisalmer's Chaitanya Raj, a look at India's royal reformers -. Hello Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Who is Chaitanya Raj Singh, and why is he trending. The Times of India(2025-08-08). Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The New York Family Office Conference. The New York Family Office Conference. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ Scion of Jaisalmer’s erstwhile royal family Brijraj Singh dies. The Times of India(2020-12-29). Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire{{#if:Lethbridge|, Lethbridge}. Macmillan(1893)
- ↑ The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Little, Brown(1902)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sonar Fort witnesses coronation of Chaitanya Raj Singh as 44th 'Maharawal' of Jaisalmer - www.lokmattimes.com, ANI. Lokmat Times(2021-01-15). Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 WATCH: Chaitanya Raj Singh Bhati takes oath as 44th Jaisalmer king, Bharat, E. T. V.. ETV Bharat News(2021-01-15). Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chaitanyaraj Singh crowned 44th Maharawal of Jaisalmer. The Times of India(2021-01-16). Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ Sonar Fort witnesses coronation of Chaitanya Raj Singh as 44th 'Maharawal' of Jaisalmer. ANI News. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Constitution of India (26th Amendment) Act 1971{{#if:Parliament of India|, Parliament of India}(1971)
- ↑ Jaisalmer Inks Deal With Historic French City Carcassonne For Cultural, Urban Development, Bharat, E. T. V.. ETV Bharat News(2025-08-31). Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Talks On To Boost Tourism In Jaisalmer On Lines Of Southern France's Carcassonne City, Bharat, E. T. V.. ETV Bharat News(2024-10-27). Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ <ref>Jaisalmer royal slams NCERT for showing region under Maratha rule in 1759, India Today Education Desk. India Today(2025-08-06). Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ NCERT removes controversial map from Class 8 textbook after historical objections. The Times of India(2026-03-17). Retrieved 2026-04-10.