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Topic 057 · Law, Judiciary & Landmark Judgments

Supreme Court strength raised from 34 to 38

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA

Core Trigger: President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance on 16 May 2026, lifting strength from 34 to 38.
Key Change: Cabinet approved the Bill on 5 May 2026; judges excluding the CJI rise from 33 to 37. An Act replaced the Ordinance in August 2026.
Current Head: Surya Kant, 53rd Chief Justice of India since 24 November 2025, swore in the new judges.
Key Term: Sanctioned strength is the maximum posts allowed by law; working strength is judges actually serving.
Data: Strength excluding the CJI was 10 in 1956, 13 in 1960 and 17 in 1977; this is the first rise since 2019.
Stakeholders: Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, piloted the Bill.
India Link: The expansion targets a backlog of over 92,000 pending cases.
Headquarters: The Supreme Court of India sits in New Delhi.
Founded: The Supreme Court was inaugurated on 28 January 1950 with a Chief Justice and seven judges.
Landmark: The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 first fixed the maximum at ten judges excluding the CJI.
Articles: Article 124(1) lets Parliament prescribe a larger number by law; Article 123 allows Ordinances.
Doctrine: An Ordinance lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless replaced.

Question 1 of 10

President Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance on:

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Answer: (B) 16 May 2026

Core Trigger: President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance on 16 May 2026, lifting strength from 34 to 38.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 1

Question 2 of 10

Excluding the CJI, the sanctioned number of judges rose from 33 to:

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Answer: (D) 37

Key Change: Cabinet approved the Bill on 5 May 2026; judges excluding the CJI rise from 33 to 37. An Act replaced the Ordinance in August 2026.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Surya Kant, who swore in the new judges, is which Chief Justice of India?

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Answer: (D) 53rd

Current Head: Surya Kant, 53rd Chief Justice of India since 24 November 2025, swore in the new judges.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 3

Question 4 of 10

Consider: 1. Sanctioned strength is the maximum posts allowed by law. 2. Working strength is the maximum posts allowed. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Key Term: Sanctioned strength is the maximum posts allowed by law; working strength is judges actually serving.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Excluding the CJI, Supreme Court strength was how many in 1977?

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Answer: (C) 17

Data: Strength excluding the CJI was 10 in 1956, 13 in 1960 and 17 in 1977; this is the first rise since 2019.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Which Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice piloted the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in 2026?

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Answer: (D) Arjun Ram Meghwal

Stakeholders: Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, piloted the Bill.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 6

Question 7 of 10

In which city does the Supreme Court of India sit?

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Answer: (D) New Delhi

Headquarters: The Supreme Court of India sits in New Delhi.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 8

Question 8 of 10

The Supreme Court was inaugurated on 28 January 1950 with a Chief Justice and how many judges?

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Answer: (B) Seven

Founded: The Supreme Court was inaugurated on 28 January 1950 with a Chief Justice and seven judges.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 9

Question 9 of 10

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 first fixed the maximum, excluding the CJI, at:

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Answer: (C) Ten

Landmark: The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 first fixed the maximum at ten judges excluding the CJI.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Consider: 1. Article 124(1) lets Parliament prescribe a larger number of judges by law. 2. Article 123 bars Ordinances altogether. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Articles: Article 124(1) lets Parliament prescribe a larger number by law; Article 123 allows Ordinances.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 057, point 11

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