In a significant event on November 24, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu officially swore in Justice Surya Kant as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, located in the heart of New Delhi. Breaking from the recent norm, Justice Kant opted to take his oath in Hindi, invoking the name of God.

The ceremony was graced by notable figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and various dignitaries such as Union ministers, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, along with judges from the Supreme Court and Chief Justices from several countries including Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Brazil, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Justice Kant, now the 53rd CJI, will serve for approximately 14 months, concluding his term on February 9, 2027. His appointment was confirmed by the Centre on October 30, following a recommendation from former CJI Bhushan R Gavai.

According to the Union Law and Justice Ministry's notification, “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025.”

Born on February 10, 1962, in a middle-class household in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981, and obtained his law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.

He commenced his legal career in Hisar in 1984 and subsequently moved to Chandigarh to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Throughout his career, he has tackled a diverse array of constitutional, service, and civil matters, representing universities, boards, corporations, banks, and the High Court itself.

On July 7, 2000, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana, and in March 2001, he was designated as a senior advocate. He ascended to the position of permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.

Justice Kant served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 5, 2018, until his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. He has also been affiliated with various judicial and legal institutions.

Notably, he was a member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2011 and is currently involved in several committees at the Indian Law Institute, which operates under the Supreme Court of India. Since November 2024, he has held the position of Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.