Meritocracy: Should the Best Always Win?

**Should society reward people according to their talent, effort, achievements or contribution? And is a truly meritocratic society necessarily a fair one?**

Most of us instinctively believe that the best person should get the job, that hard work should be rewarded, and that success should be earned rather than handed out. But when we examine these assumptions more closely, things become considerably more complicated.

Is it fair that someone born with exceptional intelligence or natural talent should enjoy greater rewards than someone who works twice as hard but achieves less? Can we really claim to live in a meritocracy when people begin life with vastly different advantages and opportunities? And should society prioritise excellence and efficiency, even when doing so produces greater inequality?

The growing emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) raises further questions. Should employers always select the most capable candidate, regardless of background or identity? Or