Hindustan Times reported on 6 May 2026 that the Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The decision, taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is intended to address mounting pendency and strengthen the court's functioning. It also clears the way for introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which would amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The report said more than 92,000 cases were pending before the apex court. The proposal followed a formal request made earlier in the year by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who wrote to the Centre in February seeking an immediate increase of four judges. He pointed to the need to augment judicial strength, especially to enable the regular constitution of Constitution benches for substantial questions of law. People aware of the development described the approach as calibrated: add four judges immediately, then evaluate the impact before considering any further expansion. The government said the increase was meant to ensure speedier justice. The Constitution does not prescribe a fixed Supreme Court strength; Article 124(1) provides for a Chief Justice of India and allows Parliament to determine the number of other judges through legislation. The last revision came in 2019, when Parliament raised the strength from 30 to 33 judges, excluding the Chief Justice. The court began in 1950 with one Chief Justice and seven puisne judges, later moving through stages of 10, 13, 17, 25, 30 and 33 judges. With the new sanctioned strength, the collegium headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant will have to address several vacancies and retirements during his tenure.