Polity & Governance (November 2025)

1. The 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI)

On November 24, 2025, a significant transition occurred in the Indian judiciary at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• New Appointment: Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu.
• Predecessor: He succeeded Justice B.R. Gavai, who demitted office on November 23.
• Tenure: Justice Surya Kant is set to have a tenure of approximately 15 months, with his retirement scheduled for February 9, 2027.
• Background: Hailing from Hisar, Haryana, he is known for his expertise in constitutional and civil matters and was part of several landmark benches, including the abrogation of Article 370.
• Oath of Office: On November 24, 2025, Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd CJI.
• The Transition: He succeeded Justice B.R. Gavai (52nd CJI), who retired on November 23.
• Unique Feature: In a first for the Indian Supreme Court, the oath ceremony was attended by Chief Justices and senior judges from over seven foreign nations, including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Kenya.

2. State Assembly Elections 2025

November was the "Election Month" for two major states, with results significantly impacting the national political map.

• Maharashtra Assembly Elections:
  • Polling: Held in a single phase on November 20, 2025.
  • Outcome: The Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde, NCP-Ajit Pawar) secured a landslide victory. Devendra Fadnavis emerged as the leading choice for Chief Minister.
  • Key Result: The alliance crossed the majority mark of 145 seats, largely attributed to the "Ladli Behna Yojana" and strong rural outreach.
• Jharkhand Assembly Elections:
  • Polling: Conducted in two phases (November 13 and November 20).
  • Outcome: The JMM-led Mahagathbandhan (including INC and RJD) under Hemant Soren successfully defended its turf against the NDA, securing a second consecutive term.

3. Samvidhan Diwas (Constitution Day) @75

November 26, 2025, marked the 75th Anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, celebrated as a "National Festival of Values."

• Central Hall Function: President Murmu presided over a special event in the historic Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament House).
• Key Launches: The President launched the Constitution of India in nine regional languages (including Malayalam, Marathi, and Punjabi) to enhance accessibility.
• Mass Reading: A nationwide mass reading of the Preamble was led by the Prime Minister to reaffirm commitment to democratic ideals.

4. Legislative & Reform Updates

• Waqf Amendment Bill: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) continued its high-intensity deliberations throughout November, conducting study tours to various states to gather stakeholder feedback before its scheduled report in the 2025 Winter Session.
• One Nation, One Election: The government intensified its push for the 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill, with the Law Ministry holding consultative meetings with regional parties to build consensus for synchronizing local and national polls.

5. Implementation of the 4 Labour Codes

This was the biggest administrative reform of the month. On November 21, 2025, the Government of India officially brought into force the four major labour codes that consolidate 29 central labour laws:

1. Code on Wages (2019)
2. Industrial Relations Code (2020)
3. Code on Social Security (2020)
4. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020)

• Impact: These codes introduce a universal "floor wage," mandatory appointment letters for all workers, and extend social security benefits to gig and platform workers for the first time.

6. The Bihar Assembly Election Results (Nov 2025)

While Maharashtra and Jharkhand were in the spotlight, Bihar also held its General Assembly elections in November 2025.

• The Outcome: The NDA alliance (BJP and JD-U) secured a decisive victory, winning a majority of the 243 seats.
• Key Figures: Nitish Kumar was sworn in for a record-breaking term as Chief Minister, supported by a resurgent BJP under the leadership of Samrat Choudhary.
• Significance: This victory solidified the NDA's hold on the Hindi heartland ahead of the 2026 electoral cycle.

7. Landmark Supreme Court Judgments

Following the swearing-in of the 53rd CJI, several high-impact rulings were delivered:

• Governor's Power over Bills (Article 200): A 5-judge Constitution Bench ruled that a Governor cannot indefinitely sit on a Bill. If a Bill is returned and passed again by the Assembly, the Governor must grant assent. The Court struck down "judicially prescribed timelines" but emphasized "constitutional promptness."
• Online Content Regulation: The SC directed the Union Government to establish a stricter regulatory framework for obscene online content on social media intermediaries, emphasizing that "free speech under Article 19(1)(a) does not grant a license for obscenity."
• Reservation for Judicial Officers: The Court ruled that judicial officers with 7 years of combined experience (as advocates and judges) are eligible for direct recruitment as District Judges, ensuring a more experienced higher judiciary.

8. Major Policy Shifts: Civil Nuclear Energy

• Private Participation: In a historic policy pivot, the Union Government officially opened India's Civil Nuclear Power Sector to private firms.
• Goal: To help India reach its target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
• Impact: This allows domestic private giants to invest in and operate nuclear plants under strict safety oversight from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

9. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

• The Move: The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision across 12 States/UTs (including UP, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu) from November 4 to December 4, 2025.
• Controversy: The Supreme Court heard petitions challenging this revision, specifically in Bihar, where petitioners argued the process shifted the "burden of proof of citizenship" onto the voters.