UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC flags long-term bias against women in the armed forces
Q1. With reference to the Supreme Court's March 2026 verdict on women Short Service Commission officers, consider the following forces:
1. Indian Army
2. Indian Navy
3. Indian Air Force
4. Indian Coast Guard
The grant of permanent commission and pensionary relief in this verdict covered women officers of all of the above forces. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Indian Army
- Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force
- Indian Coast Guard
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q2. In its March 2026 verdict, the Supreme Court directed that the affected women Short Service Commission officers be deemed to have completed how many years of qualifying service for the purpose of pension eligibility?
- A. 15 years
- B. 18 years
- C. 20 years
- D. 22 years
Q3. With reference to the Supreme Court's March 2026 judgment on women officers in the armed forces, consider the following statements:
1. The Bench that delivered the verdict was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
2. The Court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to deem the qualifying service complete.
3. Pensionary benefits to the affected officers were directed to take effect from 1 January 2025.
4. The Court directed that all affected officers be additionally paid full arrears of salary.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- The Bench that delivered the verdict was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
- The Court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to deem the qualifying service complete.
- Pensionary benefits to the affected officers were directed to take effect from 1 January 2025.
- The Court directed that all affected officers be additionally paid full arrears of salary.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. The grant of Permanent Commission to women Short Service Commission officers, as upheld in the 2026 Supreme Court verdict, is operationalised by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Defence
- B. Ministry of Home Affairs
- C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
- D. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the 2026 Supreme Court verdict on women officers with the earlier 2020 Babita Puniya judgment:
1. The 2020 judgment first held Army women SSC officers entitled to Permanent Commission, while the 2026 verdict additionally secured pensionary benefits by deeming 20 years of service complete.
2. Both the 2020 and the 2026 verdicts concerned only the Indian Army.
3. The 2026 verdict placed central emphasis on bias in Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grading, an aspect not central to the 2020 verdict.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2020 judgment first held Army women SSC officers entitled to Permanent Commission, while the 2026 verdict additionally secured pensionary benefits by deeming 20 years of service complete.
- Both the 2020 and the 2026 verdicts concerned only the Indian Army.
- The 2026 verdict placed central emphasis on bias in Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grading, an aspect not central to the 2020 verdict.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3