New Delhi, May 5, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to increase the total number of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 38. The decision aims to strengthen the judiciary and speed up the delivery of justice.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the court currently has 33 judges along with the Chief Justice. A Bill in this regard will be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament. Once passed, the total strength of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, will rise to 38.
The move comes after six years, with the last increase in 2019 when the number of judges was raised from 31 to 33. The government stated that the decision is intended to reduce the burden of pending cases and improve the efficiency of the judicial process. At present, more than 92,000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court.
Originally, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 provided for 10 judges apart from the Chief Justice. This number was increased to 13 in 1960 and later to 17. An amendment in 1986 raised it to 25, and in 2009 it was increased to 30.
As per Article 124(1) of the Constitution, Parliament has the authority to determine the number of judges in the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice. The number has been revised from time to time in view of the rising number of cases. While the increase is expected to ease the backlog, some experts believe that merely increasing the number of judges may not fully address delays in the justice system.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
