The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a proposal to increase the strength of the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The proposal will be introduced in Parliament through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.
Currently, the Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges including the CJI. The proposed amendment aims to strengthen judicial capacity and improve the speed of case disposal amid rising pendency and increasing litigation in the country.
The move is expected to help in quicker constitution of benches, faster hearings, and more efficient handling of constitutional and civil matters. It will also reduce workload pressure on existing judges and improve the overall functioning of the judiciary.
Under Article 124(1) of the Constitution, Parliament has the authority to determine the number of Supreme Court judges through legislation. Since the enactment of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, the strength of the apex court has been increased several times in response to growing legal demands.
The additional expenditure related to salaries, staff, and infrastructure for the new judges will be met through the Consolidated Fund of India. The proposal marks another significant step toward judicial reforms and ensuring timely justice delivery in India.
