The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
The decision paves the way for the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament. The proposed amendment seeks to revise the existing provisions of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
According to the government, the increase in judicial strength is aimed at improving the efficiency of the apex court and ensuring faster disposal of cases. The move comes amid a rising pendency of cases and growing workload on the judiciary.
The expenditure on salaries, staff, and associated infrastructure for the additional judges will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Constitutional Backdrop
Article 124 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court and empowers Parliament to determine the number of judges over time.
The strength of the Supreme Court has been revised multiple times since Independence. Initially capped at eight (including the Chief Justice), the number was increased through successive amendments—from 10 judges in 1956 to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, and 25 in 1986.
Further expansions raised the strength to 30 in 2008 and later to 33 in 2019. The current proposal seeks to take this number to 37, marking another step in the gradual expansion of judicial capacity.
Focus on Speedy Justice
The government stated that augmenting the number of judges will enable the Supreme Court to function more effectively, reduce case backlog, and strengthen access to timely justice.
