President Approves Ordinance to Increase the Strength of SC Judges From 33 to 37

In 2019, the Modi government, through a similar amendment, increased the strength of Supreme Court judges from 30 to 33.

Arvind Gunasekar

In 2019, the Modi government, through a similar amendment, increased the strength of Supreme Court judges from 30 to 33.

president approves ordinance to increase the strength of sc judges from 33 to 37

A view of Supreme Court of India in New Delhi on December 16, 2025. Photo: PTI/Shahbaz Khan.

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday (May 17) promulgated the ‘The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026′, increasing the strength of Supreme Court judges to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

Last week, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for increasing the strength of Supreme Court judges by four.

In 2019, the Modi government, through a similar amendment to ‘The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, had increased the strength of Supreme Court judges from 30 to 33.

The Cabinet, while approving the proposed legislation on May 5, had stated, “The increase in the number of Judges will allow Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively ensuring speedy justice.”

This article went live on May seventeenth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-four minutes past eleven in the morning.

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