Gender Imbalance in the Supreme Court

Syllabus: Judiciary
Source: The Hindu

Context: After the retirement of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia in August 2025, only one woman judge (Justice B.V. Nagarathna) remains out of 34 judges in the Supreme Court (SC).

• This severe gender imbalance raises questions about diversity, representation, and inclusivity in India’s Supreme Court.

Gender Imbalance in the Supreme Court of India

What is it?

• Gender imbalance refers to the very low number of women judges in the Supreme Court, despite the Constitution guaranteeing equality (Articles 14, 15, 16).

Current Status:

• Since 1950, only 11 women (3.8%) out of 287 judges have been appointed.
• Currently, only 1 woman judge out of 34.
• First woman judge: Justice Fathima Beevi (1989).
• Women are often appointed late, resulting in shorter tenures, which prevents them from becoming Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Causes of Gender Imbalance

• Structural barriers – The collegium system lacks institutional criteria for diversity; gender is not prioritized in appointments.
• Social factors – Gender stereotypes in the legal profession discourage women from leadership roles.
• Institutional inertia – Delayed promotions for women lead to short tenures, excluding them from the collegium.
• Barriers from the Bar – Very few senior women advocates have been directly elevated to the SC (only Justice Indu Malhotra so far).
• Opaque process – Lack of transparency in collegium selection makes the process discretionary and exclusionary.

Challenges in Correcting Gender Imbalance

• Opaque collegium system – No written policy on diversity; reasons for appointments are not made public.
• Seniority & tenure limitations – Late appointments deny women enough time to reach top positions.
• Male-dominated legal culture – Women face resistance in High Courts and the Bar, reducing chances of SC elevation.
• Lack of political & institutional will – Unlike caste, region, or religion, gender is not treated as a criterion in appointments.
• Absence of accountability – No mechanism to monitor gender diversity in higher judiciary.

Implications of Gender Imbalance

On Judiciary:

• Narrow perspectives – Lack of diverse viewpoints reduces inclusivity in judgments.
• Weak legitimacy – Courts lose credibility if they fail to represent all sections of society.
• Stunted jurisprudence – Women’s lived experiences enrich interpretation of rights (e.g., gender justice, workplace equality).
• Short tenures = limited leadership – Late appointments deny women the chance to become CJI or influence collegium decisions.

On Society:

• Erosion of trust – When judiciary lacks internal equality, citizens question its fairness.
• Discouragement for women lawyers – Few role models at the top discourage young women in the profession.
• Violation of constitutional morality – Weakens the spirit of Articles 14 & 15, which promote substantive equality.
• Democratic deficit – Judiciary fails to reflect India’s gender diversity, reducing representative legitimacy.

Way Forward

Institutional reforms:

• Make gender diversity a mandatory criterion in collegium recommendations.
• Publish transparent criteria and reasons for appointments.

Pipeline development:

• Increase women’s appointments in High Courts.
• Encourage women from the Bar – structured mentoring and reservations in judicial services.

Policy & ethical basis:

• Adopt a written diversity policy for higher judiciary (as suggested by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission).
• Ensure judicial appointments are guided by constitutional morality and substantive equality.

Global lessons:

• Countries like Canada and the UK actively promote diversity in top courts.
• India can adopt similar institutional approaches.

Conclusion

The credibility of the Supreme Court, as a guardian of equality, depends not only on its judgments but also on its composition. Bridging the gender gap is not symbolic but a constitutional necessity and moral obligation. A judiciary that reflects the diversity of society will deepen public trust and make justice more inclusive.

Green Energy Paradox

Syllabus: Energy
Source: Down to Earth (DTE)

Context: India is facing a Green Energy Paradox — about 44 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity is ready for deployment, but it remains stalled due to demand-side weaknesses and the lack of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

What is India’s Green Energy Paradox?

• It refers to the contradiction where renewable energy capacity is available, yet systemic barriers prevent its full utilization.
• While supply capacity in India is growing rapidly, demand-side consumption, financial viability, and policy mechanisms are lagging.

Current Situation

1. Dependence on coal: In FY 2023, coal and lignite contributed ~79% of domestic energy.
2. Low share of renewables: Excluding large hydro, renewables contribute only 3.8%.
3. Import dependence: India imports over 85% of oil and 50% of gas.
4. Idle capacity: 44 GW of renewable energy is stuck without PPAs.
5. Reliability deficit: Power cuts (SAIDI ~600 minutes/year) are much higher than regional neighbors (Thailand 35, Malaysia 46).

Green Energy Paradox – Two Dimensions

1. Supply-side readiness

• 44 GW of renewable projects are ready but stuck without PPAs.
• Despite global cost reductions, tariffs in India remain high due to policy and financial constraints.
• Government is incentivizing investment through PLI (Production Linked Incentives) and VGF (Viability Gap Funding) schemes.
• With battery or pumped hydro storage, costs rise to ₹6.6–₹9 per unit, making RE non-competitive compared to coal.

2. Demand-side weaknesses

• DISCOMs prefer long-term coal PPAs since they are cheaper and more stable.
• Adding solar and wind increases grid pressure, requiring costly balancing and transmission upgrades.
• Lack of smart meters and demand-response systems in India.
• Slow adoption of EVs, electric cooking, and industrial electrification limits demand for RE.

Barriers to Renewable Energy Integration

Structural:

• Weak financial health of DISCOMs (cross-subsidies and debt) prevents them from buying costly RE power.
• Absence of smart grids hinders efficient integration.

Environmental:

• Long-term coal PPAs lock in high emissions, undermining India’s net-zero goals.
• Idle RE capacity delays emission reductions and wastes infrastructure.

Economic:

• High capital costs (duties, GST, expensive loans) make India’s solar and wind tariffs higher than the global average.
• Storage (batteries, pumped hydro) is not viable without heavy subsidies or incentives.

Measures Already Taken

• National Solar Mission & Hybrid Policy: Expanding solar energy and reducing intermittency with wind-solar mixes.
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): Indirectly supporting storage and electronics ecosystems.
• PLI for batteries: Encouraging domestic storage manufacturing to reduce costs and import dependence.
• Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs): Mandating states to procure a fixed percentage of power from RE.
• Green Open Access Rules 2022: Allowing industries to directly procure RE bypassing DISCOMs.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: Promoting hydrogen as long-term storage and clean fuel.

Way Forward – Targeted Reforms

1. Expand storage systems
   • Extend VGF for battery storage.
   • Promote pumped hydro and domestic battery manufacturing under PLI.
2. Accelerate demand electrification
   • Promote EV adoption with charging infrastructure.
   • Expand electric cooking and industrial heating.
3. Smart grids and market reforms
   • Nationwide rollout of smart meters.
   • Shift from rigid "must-run" rules to market-based RE dispatch.
4. DISCOM reforms
   • Financial restructuring and accountability.
   • Implement cost-reflective tariffs and reduce political interference.
5. State-specific RPO pathways
   • Tailor RPO targets based on local grid capacity and resources.

Conclusion

India’s Green Energy Paradox highlights that energy transition is not just about expanding production capacity but also about systemic absorption and demand-side reforms. Until grid flexibility, storage, and DISCOM finances improve, renewable energy will remain stuck. To achieve climate and economic goals, India must move from capacity creation to capacity utilization, ensuring that green growth becomes affordable, reliable, and secure.

Vikram 32-bit Processor

Source: Deccan Herald (DH)

Context: At Semicon India 2025, the Prime Minister launched India’s first indigenously developed semiconductor — the ‘Vikram 32-bit Processor’, marking a major achievement in India’s journey towards semiconductor self-reliance.

About Vikram 32-bit Processor

What is it?

• A 32-bit indigenously designed semiconductor chip, officially named VIKRAM3201.
• India’s first “Made-in-India” processor, suitable for applications in space, defence, and advanced technologies.

Developed by:

• ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, Punjab.
• Built under the India Semiconductor Mission, launched in 2021.

Objectives:

• To reduce India’s dependence on imported chips.
• To build strategic self-reliance in critical technologies.
• To power applications in aerospace, defence, automotive, and high-reliability energy systems.

Features:

• 32-bit architecture, robust enough for advanced applications.
• Capable of withstanding harsh environments such as space launch vehicles.
• Suitable for defence, aerospace, automotive, and industrial electronics.
• Supports next-generation technologies such as mRNA medicines, immersive tech, and digital security systems (as per ISRO & Semiconductor Mission’s broader design focus).

Significance:

• Strategic: Strengthens India’s technological sovereignty, especially amidst global chip supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Economic: Supports India’s ambition to emerge as a semiconductor hub. Projects worth ₹1.6 lakh crore have already been approved across different states.

Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025

Source: Financial Express (FE)

Context: In the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, Iceland ranked as the most peaceful country, while India stood at 115th among 163 nations, reflecting a modest improvement in its peace score.

About the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025

What is it?

• An annual ranking of countries based on their level of peacefulness.
• Covers 163 countries and territories, representing 99.7% of the world’s population.

Published by:

• The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

Criteria:
GPI assesses countries on 23 indicators across 3 broad domains:

1. Societal Safety & Security (crime rates, political stability, impact of refugees)
2. Ongoing Domestic & International Conflict (war, terrorism, unrest)
3. Militarisation (military expenditure, arms imports/exports, armed personnel)

Trends and Rankings (2025):

• Top countries: Iceland (1st), followed by Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, and Slovenia.
• Least peaceful: Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, DR Congo, Yemen.
• Regional trends:
  • Europe dominates the top 10.
  • South America shows improvements (Argentina, Peru).
  • Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East remain the least peaceful.
• The global average peacefulness declined due to internal conflicts, militarisation, and geopolitical divides.

India & GPI 2025:

• India ranked 115th, with a score of 2.229, a 0.58% improvement over last year.
• Reasons for improvement: gradual decline in domestic violence and disputes, improved societal stability.
• Challenges: high militarisation, cross-border tensions, and sporadic internal unrest.