The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 38 judges. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the decision, stating the expansion aims to enhance the capacity of the top court, which currently comprises 33 judges and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The proposed increase requires an amendment to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. Once the amendment is enacted, the bench will consist of 37 judges in addition to the CJI. This marks the first expansion of judicial strength since 2019, when the limit was raised from 30 to 33 judges, excluding the Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court’s capacity has been incrementally adjusted through several amendments since its inception. The original 1956 Act provided for 10 judges, which was subsequently increased to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, 25 in 1986, and 30 in 2009. These adjustments are historically mandated to manage the increasing volume of litigation and pending cases before the apex court.

The government is scheduled to introduce the necessary Bill during the upcoming session of Parliament. The new judicial strength will become effective immediately following parliamentary approval and the subsequent presidential assent.