Monjita Sarkar 
The Union Cabinet has approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which increases the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India).
The Union Cabinet, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, seeks to introduce this bill to allow the Supreme Court to function efficiently in dispensing justice. Currently, there are 33 puisne judges alongside the Chief Justice of India. Only one of them is female.
The expenditure on the salary of judges and supporting staff as well as other facilities will be derived from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Background of the bill:
Article 124 (1) in Constitution of India inter-alia provided “There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven other Judges…”.
Several amendments since 1956 increased the maximum number of judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India). After six amendments the final proposal stands at 37.
