The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament, aiming to increase the strength of the Supreme Court of India by four judges.
The bill seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, which currently caps the number of judges at 33, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
The proposed increase in the number of judges is expected to improve the efficiency and functioning of the apex court, enabling it to handle cases more effectively and reduce pendency.
The additional expenditure on salaries of judges, support staff, and related infrastructure will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The strength of the apex court has been expanded multiple times since 1956, with the most recent revision coming in 2019, when the number of judges was raised from 30 to 33.
