In your answer, it is not necessary to include all points mentioned here. Students are advised to select and organize relevant content based on the provided editorial and the allocated word limit.

Answer Length Guide:

150 words – 10 marker
200–225 words – 15 marker
300 words – 20 marker
350 words – 25 marker
Essay-type answers – 1000 to 1200 words

Past Questions (UPSC Mains)

GS Paper II – Social Justice – 2020: “Discuss the challenges in ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence in India.” This editorial highlights the Revanna case’s significance.
GS Paper IV – Ethics and Human Interface – 2019: “Evaluate the role of ethical governance in addressing crimes against women.” This editorial emphasizes accountability in justice delivery.

Probable UPSC Mains Questions

GS Paper II – Social Justice – Q1: “How can India strengthen its judicial system to ensure justice for sexual assault survivors?”
GS Paper IV – Ethics and Human Interface – Q2: “Assess the ethical challenges in prosecuting politically influential figures in sexual violence cases.”

Introduction (Sets the context with a striking fact and three sentences to outline the issue, highlight developments, and state significance, ensuring clarity and relevance for high marks.)
On August 1, 2025, Prajwal Revanna, former MP, received a life sentence for raping a domestic worker, marking a rare conviction of a powerful figure. The Special Investigation Team’s swift action and survivor testimony overcame political intimidation. Yet, systemic barriers persist for survivors of sexual violence. Strengthening judicial processes is crucial for equitable justice.

Keywords / Important Terms (Using technical terms catches the evaluator’s eye, demonstrating precise knowledge and alignment with UPSC’s analytical expectations for top scores.)

Sexual Violence: Crimes like rape, as in Revanna’s case, targeting vulnerable women.
Special Investigation Team (SIT): Dedicated unit for swift, unbiased probes.
Judicial Accountability: Transparent and fair trial processes.
Political Intimidation: Threats to survivors, as attempted by Revanna’s family.
Section 376(2)(n) IPC: Law addressing repeated rape, carrying life imprisonment.
Survivor Justice: Ensuring safe spaces for victims to testify.
Privacy Violation: Recording victims, as under IT Act’s Section 66E.

Flowchart (Visualizes complex dynamics, enhancing conceptual clarity, which impresses evaluators by showing structured thinking.)

Purpose: To map justice delivery in the Revanna case.
Triggers: 2021 rape, 2024 video leak, SIT probe.
Linkages: Swift trial → conviction; political clout → intimidation attempts.
Outcomes: Justice served, need for systemic reforms.

Core Issues / Root Causes (Identifying systemic issues with examples demonstrates depth, critical for scoring high by showcasing analytical rigor.)

Political Interference: Revanna’s family used influence to intimidate survivors, delaying justice.
Systemic Barriers: Marginalized survivors, like the domestic worker, face fear of retaliation.
Delayed Justice: Despite laws like IPC Section 376, powerful figures often evade accountability.
Evidence Challenges: Initial reliance on leaked videos risked privacy violations, complicating prosecution.

Impact Analysis (Multi-dimensional analysis with examples shows comprehensive understanding, boosting marks by addressing diverse aspects.)

Social: Conviction empowers survivors, especially from marginalized communities.
Judicial: Swift SIT action sets a precedent but highlights uneven justice delivery.
Political: Revanna’s clout exposes governance gaps in tackling influential perpetrators.
Ethical: Intimidation attempts violate survivor dignity and justice principles.
Legal: Strengthens trust in laws like IPC and IT Act when enforced.

Government Schemes / Policy Interventions (Linking specific schemes to issues shows policy awareness, earning marks for practical relevance.)

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Promotes women’s safety but needs focus on survivor support.
Sakhi One-Stop Centres: Aid survivors but require better outreach in rural areas.
Fast-Track Special Courts: Enabled Revanna’s swift trial, needing wider implementation.

Way Forward / Solutions (Feasible, structured solutions reflect forward-thinking, impressing evaluators with actionable insights.)

Strengthen SITs: Equip teams with forensic tools, as in CBI’s model, for robust evidence.
Protect Survivors: Expand witness protection programs, like Australia’s system, to counter intimidation.
Fast-Track Courts: Scale up special courts for all sexual violence cases, as per NEP 2020’s justice focus.
Public Awareness: Campaigns to encourage reporting, inspired by #MeToo’s impact.
Ethical Governance: Ensure political neutrality in investigations, learning from UK’s CPS model.

Ethical Dimensions (Highlighting ethical aspects aligns with GS Paper IV, enhancing marks by showing ethical sensitivity.)

Accountability: Impartial prosecution upholds justice for all communities.
Sensitivity: Safe spaces for survivors ensure dignity and trust in governance.

Conclusion (Summarizes key elements, offers a positive opinion, and reiterates the introduction’s sentiment with a visionary tone, leaving a mature, impactful impression for higher scores.)
Revanna’s conviction marks progress in survivor justice. Swift, transparent judicial processes can deter powerful perpetrators. India’s commitment to equitable justice will empower its marginalized communities.

Editorials