New Delhi, May 05: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a proposal to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the existing Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, providing for an addition of four judges to the apex court.
According to the government, the increase in judicial strength is aimed at improving the efficiency and functioning of the Supreme Court, enabling it to deliver speedier justice amid rising caseloads.
The expenditure towards salaries of additional judges, supporting staff, and related infrastructure will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Article 124(1) of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court, comprising the Chief Justice of India and such number of judges as Parliament may by law prescribe.
The strength of the apex court has been revised multiple times over the decades. Initially capped at 10 judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) under the 1956 Act, it was subsequently increased to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, and later to 25 in 1986.
Further expansions raised the strength to 30 in 2008 and 33 in 2019. The latest proposal seeks to take the total sanctioned strength to 37 judges, marking the next step in addressing the growing demands on the judiciary.
