Supreme Court Judge Strength to Increase from 33 to 37 for Faster Justice

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a proposal to bring a new law in Parliament, called the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. It will change the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. Its purpose is to amend the current Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. As per the bill, the total strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India will be increased to 37 from the current 33.

As per the bill, there will be four additional judges appointed. This would increase the number from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. Due to an increase in the number of judges, the Supreme Court can become more efficient and productive in its work. They will be able to provide justice more effectively and efficiently due to the addition of extra judges.

Article 124 of the Indian Constitution says that the Supreme Court will have a Chief Justice of India and a limited number of other judges. Parliament can increase this number by making a law.

In 1956, a law fixed the number of judges (excluding the chief justice) at 10. Later, this number increased to 13 in 1960 and 17 in 1977. For some time, till the end of 1979, the working number was limited to 15 judges. This limit was later removed at the request of the Chief Justice of India. In 1986, the number increased from 17 to 25. In 2008, it went up from 25 to 30. The last increase happened in 2019, when the number rose from 30 to 33, excluding the Chief Justice of India.