The Supreme Court of India has clarified that “merit” should not be narrowly defined as merely high scores in competitive examinations, as such exams only offer formal equality of opportunity.

The Court emphasised that merit must be socially contextualised and reimagined as a tool to advance social justice and equality, thereby validating the role of reservation policies. The ruling underscores that reservations are not contrary to merit but are essential to level the playing field for historically marginalised communities.

In a recent landmark step, the Supreme Court itself has instituted reservation quotas for SC and ST candidates in its staff recruitment from June 2025, signalling an institutional endorsement of inclusive meritocracy.

The judgement has sparked wide discussion among legal experts, social activists, and academicians on rethinking fairness in education and employment.

Redefining Merit: Beyond Test Scores

The Supreme Court observed that equating merit solely with marks obtained in competitive exams is a flawed and incomplete approach. Examinations, while ensuring formal equality that everyone competes under the same rules fail to factor in the vast social, economic, and cultural disparities that affect candidates’ preparation and performance.

The bench stated, “High scores in an exam are not a proxy for merit,” urging society to see merit as the capacity to contribute to social goods like equality, justice, and collective progress.

Senior judiciary officials have highlighted that this judgement is in alignment with constitutional ideals that seek substantive equality equality of outcomes, not merely opportunities.

Reflecting this principle, the Court recently adopted a policy introducing 15% reservation for Scheduled Castes and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes in Supreme Court staff recruitment starting from June 23, 2025, marking a historic policy to ensure representation within the judiciary’s own establishment.

While some detractors argue the broader definition of merit could dilute academic excellence, the Court and its supporters stress that true merit must recognise diverse forms of ability and societal disadvantages.

This ruling encourages a shift from seeing merit as an isolated, narrow metric to a more holistic social concept that accommodates equity and inclusion.

The Role of Reservation in Advancing Equality

The Supreme Court’s verdict must be understood in the continuing context of India’s affirmative action system designed to address centuries of caste-based discrimination and exclusion.

Reservation policies have long faced resistance from some sections that claim such measures compromise merit or constitute reverse discrimination. However, the Court’s explicit stance debunks the myth that reservation opposes merit.

Instead, it is a corrective mechanism aimed at enabling substantive equality by compensating for structural inequalities, marginalisation, and historical disadvantages.

This ruling follows years of legal scrutiny and public debate over the scope and implementation of reservation, including high-profile cases like the ongoing challenge to Maharashtra’s Maratha reservation.

The Court reinforced that social justice demands an understanding of merit that reflects lived realities, not just scores on paper. By applying this logic to its own human resources, the Supreme Court has set a powerful example of leading by institutional practice, reinforcing that meritocracy and social justice must go hand in hand.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

For The Logical Indian, the Supreme Court’s judgement is a welcome reaffirmation that social justice, empathy, and inclusion are not merely abstract ideals but actionable principles essential to rebuilding a more equitable India. The acknowledgment that merit is socially contextualised invites us to dismantle elitist perspectives that confine worth to superficial academic success, often ignoring the systemic barriers many face.

This approach nurtures kindness, understanding, and coexistence by valuing diverse talents and life experiences. As a platform committed to peace, dialogue, and positive social change, we believe this ruling opens space for constructive conversations about how society can foster true equality. It challenges us to ask: How can India ensure that merit embraces justice and inclusiveness without undermining standards? What changes can educational and employment systems adopt to reflect this broader view of merit?