The Judiciary
The Indian judiciary for UPSC — Supreme Court and High Courts, appointment and the collegium, removal of judges, jurisdictions, judicial review and PIL.
SyllabusGS II · Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
India has a single, integrated judiciary: the Supreme Court at the top, High Courts in the States, and subordinate courts below them, all enforcing both Union and State laws. Part V, Chapter IV (Articles 124–147) creates the Supreme Court; Part VI, Chapter V (Articles 214–232) the High Courts; Part VI, Chapter VI (Articles 233–237) the subordinate courts.
What UPSC asks. Prelims checks the fine print — qualifications and retirement ages, who administers the oath, the removal procedure, the difference between original, appellate, writ and advisory jurisdiction, and the sequence of the Judges cases. Mains asks about the collegium versus the NJAC, pendency, judicial activism and overreach, and the independence and accountability of judges.
| Sub-topic | Articles / sources |
|---|---|
| Composition and appointment of judges; collegium | 124, 217; Judges cases (1981, 1993, 1998, 2015) |
| Removal of judges | 124(4), 218; Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 |
| Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court | 129–143 |
| High Courts — writ and supervisory jurisdiction | 214–231 |
| Judicial review, PIL, activism | 13, 32, 226 |
Study the main topic page — Supreme Court and High Courts — then revise with the quick revision sheet and test yourself on the practice questions.