UPSC 2021 GS-II · 10 marks · 150 words

Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness.

What “Discuss” demands

present several distinct facets of the issue and connect them into an argument, giving the competing views real weight rather than one line each.

The characteristic failure: a list of points with no argument running through them.

What a top answer must contain

These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.

  • Data: women ~13-14% of HC judges; 11 SC judges ever; Justice Nagarathna's 2027 CJI line
  • Desirability: perspective in gendered adjudication, litigant trust, pipeline signalling — CJI's 50% call (2021)
  • Causes: elevation-age vs bar attrition, collegium opacity, senior-designation scarcity
  • Measures: diversity-conscious collegium norms, bar retention support; merit-vs-diversity named a false binary

The band thresholds and the pre-scored sample answers behind this standard stay private — they are the calibration your copy is placed against.

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