UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress. Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for November 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.comQUESTION 1In the context of seniority in higher judicial services, how can the Supreme Court strike a ‘proper balance’ between merit, experience and equitable representation of promotee and direct recruit judges?QUESTION 2Discuss how the dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands reflects broader geopolitical tensions in East Asia. What are its implications for regional stability?General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC MainsIntroduction— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.BodyStory continues below this ad— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.Story continues below this ad— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.Way forward/ conclusion— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.Self Evaluation— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.Story continues below this adTHOUGHT PROCESS FOR UPSC MAINSYou may enrich your answers by some of the following pointsQUESTION 1: In the context of seniority in higher judicial services, how can the Supreme Court strike a ‘proper balance’ between merit, experience and equitable representation of promotee and direct recruit judges?Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, began hearing arguments to determine “the criteria for determining seniority in the cadre of Higher Judicial Services.”— At stake is the system that governs promotions for judges who enter the district judge cadre through two different routes: those promoted from the lower judiciary and those directly recruited from the Bar. The issue affecting career progression stems from the significant age difference between the two streams at the time of entry into the District Judge cadre: direct recruits often join in their mid-30s, while promotees reach the same post in their mid-40s after years of service in lower courts. Since seniority is largely decided by the date of entry (often through a 40-point roster system), the promotee judges tend to fall behind in the gradation list that determines eligibility for further promotion.Body:Story continues below this adYou may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:— District judges enter the higher judicial service in two ways: either through promotion from lower ranks or by direct recruitment from the bar. While promotees form nearly three-fourths of the cadre, direct recruits often rise faster.— The problem, the bench observed earlier this month, is that directly recruited district judges are usually younger when they join, often in their mid-30s, while promotees typically reach the same level around their mid-40s after years of lower court service. Because seniority is largely decided by the date of entry, promotee judges tend to fall behind in the gradation list that determines eligibility for further promotion.— As a result, by the time promotee judges reach senior positions, many are nearing retirement. The amicus curiae in the case, senior advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar, has described this as an “unintended structural disadvantage” that effectively sidelines the majority of the judicial service.Story continues below this ad— The data shared by several High Courts in their affidavits shows a clear gap between judges who are promoted through the ranks and those who enter service directly from the Bar.— For example, In Bihar, the Patna High Court reported that out of 91 judges serving as Principal District and Sessions Judges, 86 are direct recruits while only five are promotees. In Uttar Pradesh, of 70 officers working as District and Sessions Judges, 58 are direct recruits and 12 are promotees.— Judges elevated from the service side, that is, those who started their careers as civil judges, form one of the two main streams of appointments to the higher judiciary, the other being lawyers elevated directly from the Bar. Whether a judicial officer becomes eligible for elevation depends on when they reach the district judge level, because only those with a certain minimum length of service in that post can be considered.— When promotions are delayed, officers spend most of their careers in the lower judiciary and retire before they can be considered for elevation. In effect, the higher judiciary loses out on decades of trial-court experience, the kind of experience that shapes a judge’s understanding of evidence, procedure, and everyday law.Story continues below this ad— This imbalance, the amicus has argued, also affects morale within the judiciary. If promotions appear skewed or unreachable, it could discourage talented lawyers from joining at the entry level and disincentivise civil judges who spend years in trial courts.Conclusion:— In May 2025, the Supreme Court revisited the 2002 framework, restoring and clarifying several provisions that had fallen out of practice. The court reaffirmed that the LDCE quota should form 25% of the promotional intake, not the 10% many states had reduced it to. It also lowered the qualifying service for eligibility from five years to three years, allowing faster progression for meritorious officers.— Importantly, the court restored the earlier requirement that candidates for entry-level civil judge posts must have at least three years of legal practice, noting that High Courts had reported concerns about inexperienced recruits lacking courtroom maturity.— The court also directed that all promotion quotas should be computed with reference to total sanctioned cadre strength, not current vacancies, a crucial step to prevent distortions in quota application.Story continues below this ad(Source: Supreme Court to determine criteria for seniority in higher judicial services)Points to PonderRead about higher judicial servicesRead about the system that governs promotions for judgesRelated Previous Year QuestionsComment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribunal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021. 92025)Discuss the evolution of the 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. (2025)QUESTION 2: Discuss how the dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands reflects broader geopolitical tensions in East Asia. What are its implications for regional stability? Senkaku Islands. (The New York Times)Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.Introduction:— The islands are referred to as the “Senkaku”, the “Diaoyu”, and the “Diaoyutai” by Japan, China and Taiwan, respectively, with Japan administering them. They are located in the East China Sea, close to China, Taiwan and Japan, and claimed by all three.— The Islands comprise five small islands and some rocks; they are uninhabited. The biggest of the islands, Uotsuri, covers only 1.4 square miles, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).Body:You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:— The importance of the Island lies in that they are believed to be sitting atop hydrocarbon resources, although they have yet to be extracted. Some attempts by the countries to engage in resource extraction around the region have sparked protests from the others, because, beyond the issue of resources, the claims are seen as a way of asserting sovereignty.— Another factor affecting the issue is Japan and China’s complex bilateral relationship. Japan’s colonising attempts, attacks during the World Wars and other historical aggressions remain sensitive issues in both countries, especially among nationalist groups. While China demands that Japan acknowledge those historical incidents and even issue formal apologies, Japan has often refused to do so. Under Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both countries are currently headed by leaders who support nationalistic sentiments.— Historically, Japan assumed control of Taiwan and the Senkaku Islands in 1895, after winning the first Sino-Japanese War.— According to the Japanese government, it had conducted surveys of the area since 1885. It said, “Through these surveys, it was confirmed that the Senkaku Islands had not only been uninhabited but also showed no trace of having been under the control of the Qing Dynasty of China”, which was China’s last imperial kingdom. On January 14, 1895, the Japanese government decided to erect markers on the islands to formally incorporate them into the territory of Japan. China and Taiwan, on the other hand, cite old navigation books and maps showing that the islands were under the Chinese dynasties.— In 1971, the US and Japan signed the Okinawa Reversion Agreement, which returned the Senkaku Islands and Okinawa to the Japanese administration. China and Taiwan both protested the treaty, but Japan insists that they have no claims to the islands.Conclusion:Implications for regional stability— The issue has the potential to escalate into a military war, especially given the Chinese Coast Guard’s frequent intrusions into Japanese-controlled waters and the possibility of miscalculation.— The issue highlights the importance of the US-Japan alliance for regional stability, since Japan views it as critical to its long-term security.— Effective crisis management and diplomacy have contributed to the prevention of further escalation. Factors such as the fall of non-governmental action and the “new status quo” have contributed to a time of relative calm.— The conflict represents the region’s fragility, which is exacerbated by other challenges such as North Korea’s nuclear program and unresolved historical tensions between Japan and South Korea.(Source: Amid row with Japan, why Chinese Coast Guard sailed near contentious Senkaku Islands)Points to PonderRead more about Senkaku Islands and East China SeaRead about other island disputesRelated Previous Year Questions“The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance.” Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard. (2025)With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China. (2014)Previous Mains Answer PracticeUPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 128)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 129)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 128)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 127)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 127)UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 128)Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.