UPSC Mains 2021 GS Paper 2 Q2: model answer
Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness.
What the question wants
Discuss why more women in the higher judiciary are desirable for diversity, equity and inclusion.
How to structure it
Discuss the desirability: data, three reasons matched to the three words in the question, barriers, measures.
- The data
- Why it matters
- Barriers
- Measures
How to think it through
Match the three words in the question: diversity (different life experiences), equity (fair chance at the bench), inclusiveness (trust of women litigants). Then barriers and fixes.
Model answer
In 2021 three women were sworn in as Supreme Court judges on the same day, the most ever at once. Even so, in October 2026 the Supreme Court has just 3 women among 37 judges, and the High Courts about 15% (116 of 781 in February 2026). In the lower judiciary, entered by exam, women are about 38%.
Why more women matter
- Diversity: different life experiences improve reasoning on issues like custody, sexual violence and work.
- Equity: talent exists at the bar and in district courts; the gap at the top shows a closed pipeline.
- Inclusiveness: women litigants trust a court that looks like them; studies of US and other courts show better treatment of gender-based cases with mixed benches.
- Legitimacy: a court for all citizens should reflect them.
Barriers
- Collegium criteria are informal; few women are elevated from the bar.
- Family and age pressures at the stage when judges are chosen.
- Lack of facilities in court complexes.
Measures
- Transparent criteria and a target for women in collegium recommendations.
- Mentoring and senior designation for women advocates.
- Creches and safe workplaces under POSH.
Draw: A pyramid showing the share of women falling from district courts to the Supreme Court.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
3 of 37 SC judges (2026), ~15% in HCs, ~38% lower judiciary, collegium, diversity, equity, inclusiveness, POSH, senior designation.
Where most answers lose marks
- Giving old numbers. Use the latest count, and say the date.
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Fresh examples from current affairs
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In India, two people convicted of the same crime can get very different punishments depending on which judge hears the case. An Indian Express ‘Experts Explain’ piece on 24 October 2026 argues for a Sentencing Council with guidelines, pointing to the Supreme Court’s words in Sunita Devi v. State of Bihar (2024) that ‘sentencing shall not be a mere lottery’. The Centre has asked the Law Commission to examine a national sentencing policy. This topic connects Articles 14 and 21 with criminal justice reform.
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CJI Surya Kant inaugurates the first permanent High Court bench in Leh
On 18 October 2026 Chief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated a permanent bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Leh. Until now, a person in Ladakh who wanted to file a writ petition had to travel to Srinagar or Jammu, across high passes and harsh winters. The bench was made possible by a regulation that the President promulgated on 27 August and that came into force on 5 September. It is a simple idea with a big effect: bring the court to the people.
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Three High Court Chief Justices appointed as Supreme Court judges
On 5 October 2026 the President appointed three High Court Chief Justices as judges of the Supreme Court: Justice Sunita Agarwal (Gujarat), Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya (Delhi) and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (Telangana). The first two have Allahabad as their parent High Court and the third Jharkhand.
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5 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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