The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court. The proposal raises the number of judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, taking the total strength to 38 including the CJI.
The amendment seeks to expand judicial capacity and reduce the burden of pending cases in the country’s highest court. It proposes changes to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, enabling appointment of additional judges for faster disposal of cases.
Under Article 124, Parliament has the authority to increase the number of Supreme Court judges through legislation.
APSC Relevance: Indian judiciary, constitutional provisions and judicial reforms.
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