During the Great Uprising, he fought alongside his father in armor and mail at some of the major battles against the rebels.

The coronation was attended by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, Robert Montgomery, as well as by the Maharaja of Patiala-the head of the Phulkian clan.

Raghubir Singh established his main residence at Sangrur, and began a long campaign to remodel his state.

He rebuilt the Sangrur bazaar, constructed gardens and built temples, water tanks, public buildings and paved roads.

In 1875, Raghubir Singh was knighted with the GCSI, the highest imperial dignity, receiving the KIH in 1877 and the CIE in 1878.