[1] Swami was born in Narnaul, Haryana and spent almost all his life in Dehradun where his father served in Forest Research Institute.

He entered the Freedom Struggle [clarification needed] at an early age, under the umbrella of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and contributed in the local resistances at Dehradun.

[citation needed] On 9 November 2000, Nityanand Swami took the oath as the first chief minister of the new state of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand).

He was asked by the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to acquire the newly created office of Chief Minister.

[2][3][4][5] He served from 9 November 2000 to 29 October 2001 in the office and then resigned voluntarily in favor of Bhagat Singh Koshyari when asked by the BJP leadership.