The main objective of this investigation is to analyze the influence of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) cycles on microstructural evolution, surface roughness, hardness and dimensional stability of AISI D2 tool steel for cutting tools and dies applications. The cryogenic quenching was done using gaseous nitrogen. The AISI D2 tool steel was subjected to two DCT cycle: DCT-I (Hardening + DCT+ tempering) and DCT-II (Hardening + tempering + DCT). The dimensional stability of AISI D2 tool steel was evaluated using standard Navy C-ring test. The coordinate measuring machine (CMM) was employed for the precise measurement of Navy C-ring subjected to different DCT cycle. The surface roughness was evaluated with Ra (arithmetic mean roughness) and Rt (total height of roughness profile) values using surface roughness tester. The microstructural features were analyzed using optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical resistivity and hardness of treated samples were measured using micro-Ohm meter and Vickers microhardness tester. Results showed that AISI D2 tool steel treated with DCT-I cycle exhibited greater surface finish, hardness and dimensional stability compared to DCT-II cycle. It is mainly attributed to the greater precipitation of finer spherical carbides and balancing of tensile-compressive residual stresses. 1.0 Introduction Application of stronger and tougher high-performance materials, such as high carbon high chromium tool steel, is required due to the constant push for increased service performance, working efficiency, and decreased cost of service repair and maintenance for cutting tools and dies. These materials must be able to be heat treated satisfactorily to provide good hardness and dimensional stability to meet the specifications for the design and production of cutting tools and dies. AISI D2 Tool steel has been chosen as the material for this study. It is primarily used for cold working metals and is a high carbon, high chromium tool steel [1]. It contains up to 2% of carbon and 12% of chromium respectively. It possesses high wear and abrasion resistant properties. The high wear resistant and toughness properties are due to the addition of 2 Vanadium up to 0.90% [2]. It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 55-62 HRC and is machinable in the annealed condition. AISI D2 tool steel is delivered in annealed condition to make machining easier. Its structure consists of primary carbides distributed across a soft ferritic matrix, together with secondary carbides of vanadium and chromium [3]. Due to its excellent alloying qualities, AISI D2 tool steel is superior to AISI D3 tool steel. For tools and dies with very high wear resistance along with moderate hardness, AISI D2 tool steel is advised (shock-resistance). It is used to develop gauges, punches, drawing dies, blanking dies, shear blades, and cutting tools [4]. The martensite starts and finish characteristic temperatures of tool and die steels are lowered by the presence of high carbon and high alloying elements; the latter is substantially below the ambient temperature for commercial tool and die steels [5]. Therefore, the typical hardening treatment of these steels frequently results in an undesirable degree of residual austenite (Rγ) in the as-quenched structure of these steels by failing to convert a sizable amount of austenite into martensite. Being soft, the Rγ has a negative impact on desirable qualities including hardness and wear resistance [6]. Additionally, under the service conditions of tool/die steels, R is unstable and turns into martensite. Being untempered, newly generated martensite is exceedingly brittle and unattractive [7]. By putting the hardened steel specimens through several tempering cycles at a substantially higher temperature and/or for a longer period, the amount of Rγ can be decreased during traditional heat treatment [8]. However, this technique has a built-in flaw since it causes excessive matrix softening and coarsening of carbides, which lowers their hardness and strength [9]. Therefore, reducing or eliminating Rγ during the heat treatment of tool/die steels is one of the main issues. To give AISI D2 tool steel desired mechanical properties, heat treatment is utilised. It entails a quenching stage that causes unwanted tensile residual stress in the heat-treated workpiece and causes significant distortion in cutting tools and dies [10]. AISI D2 tool steel's surface integrity is also affected. Surface qualities have a significant impact on a work material's functional performance, including fatigue strength, corrosion rate, fracture toughness, and tribological behaviour including friction, wear, lubrication, and dimension accuracy [11]. Additionally, the volume expands by around 4% as austenite transforms into martensite, which results in dimensional changes, component distortion, and in severe circumstances, component failure [12]. In the design, production, and use of tooling, the distortion that results from the heat treatment is crucial [13]. Size and shape distortions are the distortions experienced during the quenching [14]. Shape distortion involves changes in its geometrical shape, while Size distortion covers changes in linear or volumetric dimensions brought on by expansion or 3 contraction [15]. The functional performance of heat-treated items is influenced, which results in production and financial losses. Inadequate surface integrity and distortion of heat-treated work pieces can lead to an expensive rise in scrap rates. Hence, the problem statement is to control the tensile residual stresses induced after quenching and minimize the retained austenite content in AISI D2 tool steel. This is necessary to improve the dimensional stability and surface