Background: With over 5 crore cases pending in Indian courts, the Ministry of Law told Parliament that AI is no longer optional. Under e-Courts Phase III, AI tools are being deployed to assist judges and litigants.
Basics:
- SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency): An AI that collects and analyzes data to help judges research faster.
- SUVAS: A translation tool that converts English judgments into 12 vernacular languages.
- Algorithm Bias: The government maintains that AI will only "assist" and not "decide" cases, to avoid ethical concerns.
Significance for UPSC:
- Access to Justice: Reduces the time and cost for the common man.
- Judicial Reform: Moves the judiciary from a "colonial paper-based" system to a "digital-first" system.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
