Women Representation in India’s Higher Judiciary – February 2026 Data released by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 6 February 2026 shows that women continue to be a minority in the country’s higher courts. Out of a total strength of 781 judges in the High Courts , only 116 are women (≈ 14.85%). The Supreme Court has a single woman judge, Justice B.V. Nagarathna , out of 33 judges (≈ 3%). Key Developments (Bullet Points) Women constitute 14.85% of the total High Court strength (116/781). Only 1 woman judge serves in the Supreme Court (Justice B.V. Nagarathna). The highest ever number of women in the Supreme Court was four, after the September 2021 appointments. On International Women’s Day , CJI Surya Kant urged measures to improve gender balance on the bench. Women judges make up nearly 37% of the district judiciary . Important Facts – Court‑wise Distribution The Punjab & Haryana High Court leads with 18 women judges (29.51% of its 61‑judge strength). Delhi and Madras High Courts follow with 10 women each (22.73% and 18.87% respectively). Smaller courts show mixed performance: Sikkim records the highest percentage (33.33%) but based on a single judge, while Madhya Pradesh, Allahabad, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Patna, and Orissa lag below 10%. Three High Courts—Manipur, Tripura, and Uttarakhand—currently have zero women judges. UPSC Relevance Understanding gender composition of the judiciary is vital for GS2: Polity and for the GS4: Ethics paper. Questions may ask about measures to improve representation, the role of the CJI, or comparative analysis of bench composition across states. The data also informs discussions on gender representation in public institutions, a recurring theme in UPSC essays. Way Forward Introduce a quota or target for women judges at the High Court level, similar to existing recommendations by the National Judicial Appointments Commission. Strengthen mentorship programmes and fast‑track promotions for qualified women judicial officers. Ensure transparent and merit‑based selection processes, with periodic audits of gender balance. Encourage states with low representation to adopt best‑practice models from Punjab & Haryana or Kerala. Raise awareness through judicial training institutes about unconscious bias and work‑life balance challenges faced by women judges. Addressing the gender gap in the higher judiciary not only aligns with constitutional guarantees of equality but also enhances the credibility and diversity of judicial decision‑making, a key concern for aspirants preparing for the civil services examination.