Cabinet Approves Supreme Court Judge Strength Increase from 33 to 37

The Union Cabinet approved on 5 May 2026 a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. With the Chief Justice of India included, the total strength of the Supreme Court will rise from 34 to 38 judges.

Supreme Court Strength and Statutory Basis

The strength of the Supreme Court is governed by The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The proposed change will require an amendment through The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which will be introduced in Parliament.

Caseload and Bench Formation

The Supreme Court has more than 92,000 pending cases. The increase in judge strength is linked to the functioning of more benches at the same time, since the court hears matters through division benches and larger constitutional benches.

Financial Provision and Previous Revision

The additional expenditure for judges, staff, and infrastructure will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India. The last revision in Supreme Court judge strength took place in 2019, when the sanctioned number of judges excluding the Chief Justice of India increased from 30 to 33.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Supreme Court of India was established on 26 January 1950 under Part V of the Constitution.
• Article 124 of the Constitution deals with the establishment and composition of the Supreme Court.
• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, provides the statutory basis for fixing judge strength.
• The Consolidated Fund of India is the main government fund under Article 266 of the Constitution.

Constitutional Provisions

Article 124 of the Constitution provides for the appointment, qualifications, and conditions of service of Supreme Court judges. The Chief Justice of India heads the Supreme Court, which functions as the highest constitutional court in India.