Sushma was born in Paliwal at Haryana and she grew up in the same place till her schooling. Later she went to the Sanatan Dharma College in Ambala cantonment and completed her BA degree. This was followed by an LLB degree from the law department of the Punjab University, Chandigarh. Though she is an advocate by profession she has been quite active in various cultural and social activities.
 
Her political career began in the early 1970s with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. During her student days, she was judged the best speaker of Haryana state for three consecutive years. Her first political stint was in 1977-82 and again in 1987-90. She was also the cabinet minister for Labour and Employment in 1977-79. Apparently, Sushma was the youngest ever cabinet minister in country at the age of 25.
 
Between 1987-90 she was the cabinet minister for education, food and civil supplies. Then, she moved onto the Rajya Sabha and became a member in 1990. Again, in 1996, Sushma stood for election and got elected from south Delhi. She also became the union cabinet minister for information and broadcasting. Of course, this stint of hers remained only for 13 days.
 
In the year 1998 Sushma became the first woman chief minister of Delhi.  After BJP lost power, Sushma returned to politics and contested against Sonia Gandhi in Bellary, Karnataka. Sushma has also received the outstanding parliamentarian award for the year 2004 and 2010. On personal front, she married Swaraj Kaushal who was governor of Mizoram. Both have a daughter Bansuri who is a barrister and Oxford university alumnus.