NEW DELHI, August 6 — The Lok Sabha passed a key bill on Thursday to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, aiming to reduce case pendency and expedite judicial decisions.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 was moved by the Union Law Minister, who stated that the expansion is necessary to manage the growing volume of constitutional matters and civil appeals. The increase does not include the Chief Justice of India (CJI), bringing the total strength of the bench to 38 including the CJI.
The government stated that additional administrative resources and courtrooms will be prepared to accommodate the expanded bench.
Judicial appointments and constitutional provisions are regularly featured in competitive exams. Candidates should know that Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to prescribe the number of judges in the Supreme Court.