New Delhi, June 16 -- In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for motor accident compensation claims across India, the Supreme Court has formally recognised homemakers as "Nation Builders" and introduced a new head of compensation titled "Loss of Domestic Care", acknowledging for the first time the immense economic value of unpaid domestic labour performed within households.

The ruling, delivered in Shishu Pal @ Shish Ram & Others versus Surjeet & Others (2026 INSC 634), is being hailed as a transformative step in Indian jurisprudence, as it seeks to correct the long-standing undervaluation of the contribution made by women engaged in unpaid caregiving and household management.

The Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and...