Supreme Court Judges 2026: Key Facts
The Supreme Court of India has 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. Learn about the recent increase in judges and its significance.

Introduction & Overview
The Supreme Court of India is the highest court in the country, and its strength has been increased recently. The Cabinet approved a proposal to raise the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). With this, the total strength of judges in the apex court, including CJI, is now increased from 34 to 38.
Historical Timeline
The number of judges in the Supreme Court has been increased several times since 1950. The key amendments to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, are as follows:
| Year | Number of Judges |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 8 (1 Chief Justice + 7 judges) |
| 1956 | 11 (1 Chief Justice + 10 judges) |
| 1960 | 14 (1 Chief Justice + 13 judges) |
| 1978 | 18 (1 Chief Justice + 17 judges) |
| 1986 | 26 (1 Chief Justice + 25 judges) |
| 2009 | 31 (1 Chief Justice + 30 judges) |
| 2019 | 34 (1 Chief Justice + 33 judges) |
| 2026 | 38 (1 Chief Justice + 37 judges) |
Key Facts & Figures
The current strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India is 38, including the Chief Justice of India. The increase in the number of judges will aid the apex court in functioning more efficiently, as there are about 92,000 cases pending before the Supreme Court.
Memory Tricks
To remember the number of judges in the Supreme Court, you can use the following mnemonic: 'Supreme Court Judges Increase'
- SCI. The number of judges has been increased 7 times since 1950.
Frequently Asked in Exams
The Supreme Court judges can be increased through amendments to The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The Act fixed the number of judges of the apex court at 10 (excluding the CJI). Article 124 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court and states that the number of judges shall be determined by Parliament by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many judges are there in the Supreme Court of India?
A: The current strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India is 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
Q: What is the significance of the recent increase in judges?
A: The increase in the number of judges will aid the apex court in functioning more efficiently, as there are about 92,000 cases pending before the Supreme Court.
Q: How can the number of Supreme Court judges be increased?
A: The Supreme Court judges can be increased through amendments to The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
Q: How many times has the Parliament increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court?
A: The Parliament of India has increased the number of sanctioned judges 7 times (including May 2026) since 1950 to meet rising caseloads.
Q: What is the source of funding for the salaries of the Supreme Court judges?
A: The salaries and allowances of the Supreme Court judges are paid from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Tags
FAQs
Q.How many judges are there in the Supreme Court of India?
Q.What is the significance of the recent increase in judges?
Q.How can the number of Supreme Court judges be increased?
Q.How many times has the Parliament increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court?
Q.What is the source of funding for the salaries of the Supreme Court judges?
Comments / टिप्पणियां (0)
Please sign in with Google to post a comment.