Artificial Intelligence in Justice Delivery
Science & Technology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
The application of AI in the judiciary presents both opportunities for efficiency and challenges related to ethics, fairness, and the fundamental nature of justice. UPSC examines how emerging technologies impact governance, public services, and constitutional principles.
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in justice delivery systems involves leveraging advanced computational tools to enhance judicial processes, improve efficiency, and expand access to justice. While AI can aid in tasks like legal research and administrative streamlining, its application is carefully considered to complement, not replace, human judicial reasoning.
Facts & tables
- Judicial Stance
- Supreme Court views technology as an aid to human reasoning, not a substitute for independent judicial thought.
- Indigenous Development
- Efforts are underway to establish an indigenous AI ecosystem for the judiciary.
- AI Capabilities
- AI can process legal texts rapidly, map procedural trends, and eliminate administrative checkpoints.
- AI Limitations
- AI lacks empathy, ethical discernment, and deep contextual understanding, which are vital for judicial judgment.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Emerging Information Technologies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court of India | Adopts and implements technology |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Technology as an aid, not substitute for human judgment.
- Indigenous AI ecosystem for judiciary.
- Benefits: speed, efficiency, administrative streamlining.
- Limitations: lacks empathy, ethical discernment, contextual understanding.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Policy measures |
Timeline
-
Emerging Information Technologies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2019
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Considerable emphasis put on developing Swadeshi jurisprudence: CJI Surya Kant
AI in judiciary aims to enhance efficiency and access to justice, but is seen as an aid to human judgment, not a replacement, due to its limitations in empathy and ethical reasoning.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2017–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Considerable emphasis put on developing Swadeshi jurisprudence: CJI Surya Kant
AI in judiciary aims to enhance efficiency and access to justice, but is seen as an aid to human judgment, not a replacement, due to its limitations in empathy and ethical reasoning.
Try these PYQs
GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?
I. It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.
II. It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.
III. It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
✅ Statement I: Correct
*GAGAN is an Indian SBAS developed by ISRO and AAI to enhance GPS accuracy and integrity, crucial for aviation safety.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*It improves GPS reliability and accuracy, enabling better air traffic management and safer, efficient navigation.* ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
*GAGAN’s benefits extend beyond aviation to railways, roadways, maritime, agriculture, and disaster management.* Correct Answer: Only Statements I and II are correct.
Consider the following statements:
I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028.
II. 'Kavach' is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.
III. 'Kavach' system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.
Which of the statements given above are **not** correct?
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
The National Rail Plan targets 2030 for a future-ready railway, not 2028. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection system developed under 'Make in India', not with Germany. ✅ Statement III: Correct
Kavach uses RFID tags on tracks in station sections to track train location and speed continuously. Therefore, Statements I and II are incorrect, and Statement III is correct.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017?
1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city of our country into Smart Cities in a decade.
2. It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country.
3. It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is not a scheme for developing Smart Cities. Instead, it is a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying innovative digital technology solutions to solve real-world challenges across various sectors. Statement 2 is correct: The Government of India launched the Smart India Hackathon to encourage students and professionals to develop innovative digital solutions for challenges in agriculture, health, education, energy, environment, and other domains. It serves as a platform for young minds to engage in problem-solving and contribute to technological advancements. Statement 3 is incorrect: While the hackathon focuses on digital technology innovations, it is not specifically centered on digital financial transactions. Instead, it covers a wide range of sectors where technology can drive efficiency and innovation. Hence, correct answer is option (B).
Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:
I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.
II. Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
*India co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris (Feb 2025), continuing efforts from the Bletchley Park (UK, 2023) and Seoul (South Korea, 2024) Summits on AI governance.* ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
*The joint statement on ‘Inclusive and Sustainable AI’ was signed by 58 countries including India and China, but the US and UK did not sign due to concerns about overregulation.* Correct Answer: Only Statement I is correct.
With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence an effectively do which of the following?
1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units.
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs.
3. Disease diagnosis.
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion.
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
* AI is now being used to analyze industrial data, optimize processes, and predict energy usage patterns. This allows for targeted interventions to reduce overall consumption. * AI can now generate more creative and coherent text formats compared to 2020. While still under development, some AI-generated content can be quite engaging, blurring the lines between human and machine creation. * AI has become a powerful tool in medical diagnosis. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data, identify complex patterns, and assist healthcare professionals in diagnosis and treatment planning. * Text-to-speech conversion using AI continues to be a well-established technology. AI can now generate natural-sounding speech with various accents and emotions, making it a valuable tool for various applications. * While significant wireless transmission of electricity over long distances remains a challenge, there has been progress in short-range wireless charging and localized energy transfer using AI-powered systems. Note: From the current status of AI development, all the listed applications of AI are feasible. However, this question was asked by the UPSC in 2020 when Generative AI was yet to become mainstream. UPSC's official answer key gave 'B' as the correct answer.
Show 3 more PYQs
With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements :
1. Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data.
2. In Web 3-0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks.
3. Web 3-0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. A key aspect of Web 3.0 is the concept of decentralization, where users have more control and ownership over their personal data, rather than having it stored and controlled by centralized platforms. Statement 2 is correct. Blockchain technology is a core component of Web 3.0, and it can enable the creation of decentralized, user-owned social networks and platforms. Statement 3 is correct. The decentralized nature of Web 3.0 means that it is not controlled by a single corporation or entity, but rather operated and maintained collectively by the users and participants in the network. Therefore, all three statements regarding Web 3.0 are correct.
With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements:
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. Blockchain technology operates as a decentralized and transparent ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. The ledger is publicly accessible, allowing anyone to inspect the transactions recorded on it. Additionally, no single user or entity has control over the entire blockchain network, as it is distributed among multiple nodes. Statement 2 is incorrect. While blockchain technology is best known for its association with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the blockchain itself is capable of recording various types of data beyond just financial transactions. Blockchain can be used to record and verify any type of digital information, such as contracts, identity documents, supply chain data, and more. Statement 3 is correct. Blockchain technology enables the development of decentralized applications (DApps) that can operate without the need for central authority or permission. Developers can create applications that utilize the basic features of blockchain, such as transparency, immutability, and decentralization, without requiring approval from a central entity.
In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:
1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected into real-life objects or surroundings.
3. AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.
4. VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. AR enhances the real world, not shuts it out. Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital elements on top of the real world, allowing users to see both simultaneously. Statement 2 is incorrect. Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely immersive and simulated environment that replaces the real world. Users wear a headset that blocks out their surroundings and projects a computer-generated world they can interact with. Statement 3 is correct. AR often utilises the camera on a smartphone or PC to overlay digital elements onto the real world you see through the camera. This can enhance experiences in gaming, education, and even product visualisation. Statement 4 is correct. VR creates a closed world, shutting out the physical environment and transporting the user entirely into a simulated one. This provides a highly immersive experience, often used for gaming, entertainment, and even training simulations.