In a major step aimed at strengthening India’s judicial system, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India by four judges.
If passed by Parliament, the amendment will raise the number of judges in the apex court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
Move Aimed at Faster Disposal of Pending Cases
The proposed expansion comes at a time when the country’s highest court continues to face a substantial pendency of cases. By increasing judicial capacity, the government aims to improve the court’s efficiency and accelerate the delivery of justice.
Officials believe that adding four more judges will help the Supreme Court hear more matters simultaneously, reduce delays in constitution of benches, and ease the burden on existing judges.
The amendment is expected to strengthen the court’s ability to deal with growing litigation across constitutional matters, civil disputes, criminal appeals, and public interest cases.
What the Amendment Proposes
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes a straightforward revision to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
At present, the law permits a maximum of 33 judges apart from the Chief Justice of India. The latest amendment would revise that ceiling to 37 judges, taking the total possible strength of the Supreme Court to 38 including the Chief Justice.
Constitutional Provision Behind the Expansion
The power to increase the strength of the Supreme Court flows from Article 124(1) of the Constitution of India, which allows Parliament to determine the number of judges in the apex court.
When the law was first enacted in 1956, the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was only 10 judges, excluding the Chief Justice. Over the decades, rising litigation and growing judicial responsibilities have led to repeated revisions.
Previous Increases in Supreme Court Strength
- 1960 – increased from 10 to 13 judges
- 1977 – raised to 17 judges
- 1986 – expanded to 25 judges
- 2008 – increased to 30 judges
- 2019 – raised to 33 judges
- 2026 – proposed increase to 37 judges
This will be the sixth major expansion in the history of the Supreme Court.
Financial Impact to Be Met from Consolidated Fund
The government has clarified that salaries, allowances, staff support, office infrastructure, and other related expenses for the additional judges will be met through the Consolidated Fund of India.
Officials said the financial implications have already been factored into the proposal and are not expected to place unusual pressure on public finances.
Why This Matters
Legal experts say the expansion is significant because the Supreme Court remains the final court of appeal for millions of litigants across India.
A larger bench strength could help in:
- faster disposal of pending appeals
- quicker hearing of constitutional matters
- more efficient listing of urgent petitions
- reduced workload pressure on existing judges
With the volume and complexity of litigation steadily increasing, the additional judicial capacity is expected to improve institutional responsiveness.
Next Step
The amendment bill will now be introduced in Parliament. Once approved, the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court will officially increase, marking another major institutional reform in India’s judicial framework.
The move underlines the Centre’s effort to improve judicial efficiency while addressing one of the biggest challenges facing the legal system — the growing backlog of cases.
