List of longest-serving Indian chief ministers

The chief minister is the chief executive of the Indian state. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the legislative assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits. Here listed are the chief ministers who have served for more than 10 years in office. As of 20 May 2026, 45 chief ministers have served for more than 10 years; of these, only four female chief ministers are listed here. The chief ministers from the states of Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have not served for 10 years in office or more, and currently there are three chief ministers who are incumbents and continue to serve. The longest-serving chief minister is the former Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling of the Sikkim Democratic Front, who served from 12 December 1994 to 26 May 2019 for 24 years and 165 days. Former Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has the record of most terms (ten) as chief minister. The Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio is the longest-serving current chief minister.