Studying landmark Supreme Court judgments is crucial for UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) aspirants, especially those preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). These judgments have had a significant impact on Indian society, governance, and the interpretation of the Constitution. Here are 25 important Supreme Court judgments that UPSC aspirants should be familiar with:

1. Keshavananda Bharati Case (1973): Established the doctrine of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
2. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978): Expanded the scope of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21.
3. A. K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950): Clarified the scope of preventive detention.
4. Golaknath v. State of Punjab (1967): Ruled that Parliament cannot amend Fundamental Rights.
5. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): Reinforced the limitations on Parliament’s amending power.
6. Minerva Mills Ltd. v. Union of India (1980): Upheld the doctrine of the Basic Structure and limited Parliament’s amending power.
7. S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): Defined the scope of President’s Rule and the grounds for its imposition.
8. Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): Struck down Indira Gandhi’s election and declared the election invalid.
9. Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan (1997): Laid down guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace.
10. M. C. Mehta v. Union of India (1987): Addressed environmental issues and led to the closure of polluting industries in Delhi.
11. Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011): Ruled on euthanasia and passive euthanasia.
12. T. S. R. Subramanian v. Union of India (2013): Dealt with civil services reforms and fixed tenure for bureaucrats.
13. Mohammed Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano (1985): Addressed the issue of maintenance for divorced Muslim women.
14. Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh (2013): Laid down guidelines for registering FIRs in cognizable offenses.
15. Habeas Corpus Case (1976): Established the importance of the writ of habeas corpus.
16. M. P. Sharma v. Satish Chandra (1954): Dealt with the scope of the right against self-incrimination.
17. Kharak Singh v. State of UP (1963): Addressed the right to privacy.
18. Vijayanta Gajapathi Raju v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1986): Ruled on the power of the government to acquire temple lands.
19. S. R. Chaudhuri v. State of Punjab (2001): Dealt with the issue of police encounters.
20. Gopal Vinayak Godse v. Union of India (1961): Clarified the distinction between judicial and executive orders.
21. Saheli v. Commissioner of Police (1990): Addressed issues related to dowry deaths and harassment of women.
22. Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): Dealt with freedom of speech and the validity of Section 66A of the IT Act.
23. S. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950): Examined the scope of preventive detention.
24. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1994): Addressed the right to privacy vis-à-vis media reporting.
25. Nirbhaya Case (2017): Significantly influenced the discourse on women’s safety and led to changes in criminal laws.

These landmark Supreme Court judgments have played a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape and societal norms in India. Aspirants should thoroughly study these cases, understand their implications, and be prepared to discuss them in the context of various subjects in the UPSC CSE, such as Indian Polity, Constitution, Law, and Ethics.