What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

The examiner may trap you by conflating 'external pressure' (from executive/legislature) with 'pressure from colleagues' (internal judicial dynamics), or by confusing the call for removing corrupt judges with a call for reducing the number of judges.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Quote: "Judges who are unable to live within their known sources of income... must be weeded out." 2. Target this Venue: 22nd Biennial State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers, Bengaluru. 3. Target this Concept: Judicial independence must include freedom from algorithmic (AI) influence.

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Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna Calls for Weeding Out Corrupt Judges, Emphasizes Independence from AI Influence

Q: Which constitutional principle is most directly invoked by Justice Nagarathna's emphasis on judges being free from external pressures?

Judicial Independence, Justice Nagarathna's call for judges to be free from external pressures directly aligns with the constitutional principle of Judicial Independence, which is essential for a fair judiciary. While Separation of Powers (Article 50) supports this, the core concept invoked is independence itself.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding Justice BV Nagarathna's speech: 1. She stated that judges succumbing to greed must be removed from the system. 2. She emphasized that judges must be free from pressure from their colleagues. 3. She argued that Artificial Intelligence should replace human judges to ensure efficiency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct as she said judges "fall prey to greed and temptation must be weeded out." Statement 2 is correct as she said judges must be free from "external pressures or from their colleagues." Statement 3 is incorrect; she warned against over-reliance on AI and said judges must retain control over reasoning, not that AI should replace them.

Q: According to Justice Nagarathna, what is a key threat posed by Artificial Intelligence to the judiciary?

It creates a form of cognitive influence and threatens human cognitive autonomy., Justice Nagarathna stated that if judges rely too much on AI, it can create cognitive influence and poses a threat to the cognitive autonomy of humans. This is the core threat she identified, emphasizing the need for judges to retain final control over reasoning.

PolityHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCPrelims MediumMains HighStatic GK Link

18 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Bodies:Supreme Court

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.Justice BV Nagarathna stated that judges who succumb to greed and cannot live within their known income must be removed from the judiciary.

2.She emphasized that judges must be free from external pressures and colleagues, and that decisions should not be made through 'coordination'.

3.She also highlighted the threat of AI to judicial independence, stating that judges must retain control over reasoning to prevent algorithmic influence.

The Big Picture

Prelims · MediumMains · High

Justice BV Nagarathna of the Supreme Court delivers a strong message on judicial integrity and independence, warning against corruption and the subtle influence of Artificial Intelligence on judicial reasoning.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

SpeakerJustice BV Nagarathna (Supreme Court)

Event22nd Biennial State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers, Bengaluru

Key Quote"Judges who are unable to live within their known sources of income and fall prey to greed and temptation must be weeded out."

Topic of Speech"Reimagining the Judiciary in the Era of Artificial Intelligence"

1-Minute Revision

›Speaker: Justice BV Nagarathna (Supreme Court)
›Event: 22nd Biennial State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers, Bengaluru
›Target this Quote: "Judges who are unable to live within their known sources of income... must be weeded out."
›Target this Venue: 22nd Biennial State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers, Bengaluru.
›Target this Concept: Judicial independence must include freedom from algorithmic (AI) influence.

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News Snapshot

⚖️

Judicial Integrity

Justice Nagarathna calls for removing judges who succumb to greed, emphasizing the duty to the litigant public and nation.

🚫

External Pressure

She stresses that judges must be free from external pressures or influence from colleagues, and decisions cannot be made through 'coordination'.

🤖

AI & Judiciary

Justice Nagarathna warns that reliance on AI threatens judicial cognitive autonomy, and judicial independence must evolve to include freedom from algorithmic influence.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Justice BV Nagarathna's speech addresses long-standing concerns about judicial corruption and ethical standards within the Indian judiciary. It connects to broader debates on judicial accountability, transparency, and the need for robust internal mechanisms to uphold integrity, as highlighted by various commissions and reports over the years.

Core Analysis & Implications

Her statement underscores the principle of judicial independence, which is a cornerstone of the Constitution (Article 50). Calling for weeding out corrupt judges reinforces the need for effective disciplinary bodies like the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill. Linking this to AI introduces a contemporary challenge: while technology can aid efficiency, its uncritical use could undermine the human discretion and moral reasoning essential to justice, potentially violating the basic structure of the Constitution regarding an independent judiciary.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

This speech may catalyze discussions on formalizing stricter codes of conduct and accountability measures for judges. It also pushes for a framework governing the use of AI in courts, ensuring it remains an assistive tool without compromising judicial autonomy. Future developments could include Supreme Court guidelines or committee recommendations on ethical standards and AI usage in judicial processes.

Key Facts at a Glance

SpeakerJustice BV Nagarathna (Supreme Court)

Event22nd Biennial State-Level Conference of Judicial Officers, Bengaluru

Key Quote"Judges who are unable to live within their known sources of income and fall prey to greed and temptation must be weeded out."

Topic of Speech"Reimagining the Judiciary in the Era of Artificial Intelligence"

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, MPSC, SSC

Which constitutional principle is most directly invoked by Justice Nagarathna's emphasis on judges being free from external pressures?

Q2Statement-basedMediumUPSC, MPSC

Consider the following statements regarding Justice BV Nagarathna's speech:

1. She stated that judges succumbing to greed must be removed from the system.

2. She emphasized that judges must be free from pressure from their colleagues.

3. She argued that Artificial Intelligence should replace human judges to ensure efficiency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

At which event did Justice BV Nagarathna deliver the speech discussed in the article?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, MPSC

According to Justice Nagarathna, what is a key threat posed by Artificial Intelligence to the judiciary?

All 25 MCQs ▸

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Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna Calls for Weeding Out Corrupt Judges, Emphasizes Independence from AI Influence

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Judicial Integrity

External Pressure

AI & Judiciary

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance