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Current Affairs

Lok Sabha Passes Supreme Court Judge Strength Amendment Bill, 2026

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On 3 August 2026, the Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The Bill, introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, aims to enhance judicial capacity amid a growing backlog of over 92,000 pending cases as of January 2026. This legislative measure replaces a presidential ordinance from May 2026 and reflects Parliament's constitutional authority under Article 124 to regulate the Supreme Court's composition by law.

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Key Facts

  • Date of passing: 3 August 2026
  • Bill: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
  • Previous sanctioned strength: 34 judges (including Chief Justice of India)
  • New sanctioned strength: 38 judges (including Chief Justice of India)
  • Introduced by: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
  • Pending cases as of 1 January 2026: 92,101
  • Replaced Ordinance: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which increased strength from 34 to 37 (excluding Chief Justice)

Background & Context

The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on 28 January 1950 under Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. Article 124 empowers Parliament to regulate the number of Supreme Court judges by law. Initially, the sanctioned strength was 8 judges but has gradually increased over time to meet judicial needs. In 2019, Parliament passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, increasing strength from 30 to 33 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India, bringing the total sanctioned strength to 34 judges including the Chief Justice.

As the number of pending cases rose, reaching 92,101 by January 2026, the need to increase judicial strength became critical. To address this, the Union Cabinet approved the legislative proposal in May 2026, and the President promulgated an Ordinance increasing strength from 34 to 37 judges (excluding the Chief Justice). The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, replaced this Ordinance and raised the sanctioned strength to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice.

Why This Matters for Exams

This development is important for candidates preparing for competitive exams as it involves constitutional provisions (Article 124), legislative procedures, and contemporary judicial administration. Understanding the composition and sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is essential for polity and governance topics. Facts such as the dates of the Bill's passage, the names of key persons involved, and related statistics on case-backlog are frequently tested in exams.

Points to Remember

  • The Supreme Court was established on 28 January 1950 under Article 124 of the Constitution of India.
  • Parliament has the authority to regulate the number of Supreme Court judges by ordinary legislation.
  • The sanctioned strength stood at 30 judges (excluding the Chief Justice) before increasing to 33 in 2019.
  • The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026, increased sanctioned strength to 38 judges including the Chief Justice.
  • The Bill was introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and replaced a May 2026 Ordinance that had increased sanctioned strength to 37 (excluding Chief Justice).
  • The Supreme Court handles constitutional matters, civil and criminal appeals, and special leave petitions.
  • As of 1 January 2026, there were 92,101 pending cases in the Supreme Court, underscoring the need to increase judicial capacity.
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