QUESTION 13
GS2
15 marks
Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Trace the evolution of the collegium and critically compare appointment of Supreme Court judges in India and the USA.
Critically examineWeigh the strengths and the weaknesses, then give a balanced verdict.
Demand-wise check
- 1Evolution: First Judges Case (1981, executive primacy), Second (1993, collegium), Third (1998, five-member collegium), NJAC struck down (2015), Memorandum of Procedure debates≈65 words
- 2India: judges appoint judges; pros (independence), cons (opacity, delays, lack of diversity)≈65 words
- 3USA: President nominates, Senate confirms; pros (democratic legitimacy, public hearings), cons (politicisation, life tenure battles)≈65 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Evolution timelineIndian system pros/consUS system pros/consLessonsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Skipping the evolution part
- Describing the US system without its downsides
Draw this
- Timeline + comparison table
Value addition
- Case lawSecond Judges Case (1993) created the collegium; Third Judges Case (1998) expanded it to the CJI and four senior judges.Supreme Court of India
- FactUS Supreme Court nominees face Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and a full Senate vote.US Constitution Article II, Section 2
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Alfred Thomas · Page 13 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.