Singh, Karan (1931– )

Indian politician and author. In 1949, his father, Maharaja Hari, appointed him regent of Jammu and Kashmir. In November 1952 he was elected head of state of Jammu and Kashmir and was re-elected in 1957 and 1962, and elected governor in 1965 and 1967. Singh also held several ministerial positions and was India's ambassador to the USA 1989–91. In 1967, at the age of 36, he became the youngest person to become a central cabinet minister in India when he joined Indira Gandhi's cabinet.

Singh founded the International Centre for Science, Culture, and Consciousness, wrote a number of books on political science, and was associated with many cultural and academic institutions. In the 1990s he was chair of the Jammu and Kashmir Autonomy Committee.