Introduction
Parliament passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, during the Monsoon Session, increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India). With the CJI included, the total bench strength rises from 34 to 38 judges. The Bill aims to enable the constitution of more benches for faster disposal of pending cases.
What Happened?
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The Bill replaces an ordinance promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu in May 2026. Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that the amendment reflects the government's commitment to judicial reform and timely justice delivery.
Background
The Supreme Court of India was constituted on 26 January 1950 under Article 124 of the Constitution. The original Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 set the first statutory limit on the number of judges. Over the decades, the bench strength has been progressively increased — from 8 in 1950 to 34 (including CJI) before this amendment — as pendency grew. India has one of the highest numbers of pending cases in the world, with over 80,000 cases pending in the Supreme Court alone.
Why It Matters
A larger bench allows more concurrent hearings, which is expected to reduce the average waiting time for cases. Constitutional benches (five or more judges), required for fundamental rights and constitutional interpretation cases, can be convened more readily. This is seen as part of a broader push for judicial reforms alongside increasing digitisation of court proceedings and e-courts.
Key Facts
- New sanctioned strength: 37 judges + CJI = 38 total
- Previous strength: 33 judges + CJI = 34 total
- Amends: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956
- Replaced an ordinance promulgated in May 2026
- Constitutional basis: Article 124 of the Constitution of India
- Supreme Court established: 26 January 1950
Exam Perspective
For TNPSC and UPSC aspirants: Article 124 deals with the establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court. The number of judges (excluding CJI) is fixed by Parliament by law — not the Constitution directly. This distinction is important. Remember the new figure: 38 total judges including CJI. Also remember that a constitutional bench requires at least 5 judges.
Conclusion
The increase in Supreme Court bench strength is a practical step toward reducing judicial pendency. By enabling more benches to sit simultaneously, the reform is expected to accelerate case disposal, particularly for constitutional and civil matters that have long queues.