The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to raise the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.

The increase will happen through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which amends the 1956 Act. The Bill still needs Parliament's approval. The proposal follows a recommendation from the Chief Justice of India, according to reports.

The government said the extra judges would help the court function more efficiently and deliver speedy justice. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw pointed to the pendency of nearly 92,000 cases. The court is currently working with two vacancies against its sanctioned strength.

The strength was last raised in 2019, from 31 to 34 judges. The original 1956 law had allowed only 10 judges besides the Chief Justice.

Why it matters: four new judges will not wipe out the backlog, but they give the collegium more bench combinations to list and hear cases faster.