State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 31 Oct 2025

Justice Surya Kant Appointed as 53rd CJI

Why in News? 

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 53^rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). 

 

Key Points 

• About:  
  • He will assume office as the Chief Justice of India on 24^th November 2025, succeeding CJI B. R. Gavai, and will serve a 15-month tenure until 10th February 2027. 
  • He will be the first Chief Justice of India from Haryana. 
  • He is a first-generation lawyer known for his forthright observations, balanced judgments, and emphasis on constitutional morality. 
  • His tenure is expected to focus on judicial accessibility, administrative reforms, and consistency in constitutional interpretation. 
• Notable Judgments: 
  • Article 370: Part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370. 
  • Minority Tag to AMU: Member of the bench that delivered the verdict on Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status. 
  • Election Commission Oversight: Currently heading a bench supervising the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. 
• About Chief Justice of India:  
  • A Supreme Court judge, including the CJI, is appointed by the President under Article 124 (2).  
  • The senior-most judge is designated as CJI based on length of service ( it is customary practice, not a legal requirement ).  
  • To qualify as CJI, one must be a citizen of India, have served as a High Court judge for 5 years or as an advocate for 10 years, or be a distinguished jurist in the President’s opinion.  
  • The CJI can only be removed by the President after an address by Parliament, supported by a special majority in both Houses. 

  

National Unity Day

Why in News?  

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas(National Unity Day), observed annually on 31^st October to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s role in unifying India, holds special significance in 2025 as it marks his 150^th birth anniversary. 

Key Points 

• National Unity Day:  
  • It embodies the values of unity, integrity, and inclusiveness championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 
  • It was first celebrated in 2014, following the Government’s decision to honour Patel’s monumental role in nation-building. 
  • During the 2015 observance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative to strengthen connections and cultural exchange among people of different regions. 
• Events: 
  • The Sardar@150 Unity March (Yatra), organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the My Bharat platform, aims to promote unity, patriotism, and civic responsibility among youth in line with the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. 
  • The “Run for Unity,” a nationwide marathon symbolising national cohesion, was held on 31^st October 2025 across major cities, with a flag-off event in New Delhi. 
• Statue of Unity:  
  • On 31^st  October 2018, the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters (600 feet), was inaugurated at Kevadia, Gujarat, honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.  
  • Overlooking the Narmada River and the Sardar Sarovar Dam (the second largest gravity dam worldwide by concrete volume), the statue is situated on Sadhu Bet hillock. 
  • In 2020 India's Statue of Unity was included in the list of eight wonders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).