The Union Cabinet cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which will raise the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. It amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and is the first such increase since 2019. The step responds to a backlog of more than 92,000 cases and a rise in digital e-filings after the COVID-19 pandemic. Article 124(1) lets Parliament change the number of judges by law; the Bill needs a simple majority in both Houses and Presidential assent. Originally the Constitution provided for the CJI and seven other judges.