**Executive Summary**
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026, increases the authorized strength of Supreme Court judges to thirty-seven. Although published on August 11, 2026, following Presidential assent, the Act is retroactively deemed to have come into force on May 16, 2026. It replaces the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, while preserving all actions taken under the repealed ordinance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Increase in Judicial Strength**
* The Act amends Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
* The maximum number of judges in the Supreme Court is increased from "thirty-three" to "thirty-seven."
**Repeal and Savings**
* The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 (Ord. 1 of 2026), is officially repealed.
* A savings clause ensures that any actions taken or things done under the 1956 Act as amended by the 2026 Ordinance remain valid and are deemed to have been done under this new Act.
**Legislative Classification**
* The legislation was certified as a Money Bill within the meaning of article 110 of the Constitution of India by the Speaker of the House.
**Impact Analysis**
**Supreme Court of India**
**Impact**
The judicial bench capacity is expanded, allowing for the appointment of four additional judges beyond the previous limit of thirty-three.
**Action Required**
The Court must integrate additional judicial personnel into its administrative and courtroom structures to utilize the increased capacity.
**Ministry of Law and Justice**
**Impact**
The Ministry is now legally empowered to facilitate the appointment of judges up to the new statutory limit of thirty-seven.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must process the appointments of new judges to fill the newly created vacancies in accordance with the amended Act.
**Legislative and Legal Records Departments**
**Impact**
The 2026 Ordinance is superseded by this Act, requiring an update to the statute books.
**Action Required**
Administrators must update official records to reflect the repeal of Ordinance 1 of 2026 and the permanent amendment to the 1956 Act.
Key Entities Referenced
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026: Primary legislation enacted to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India from thirty-three to thirty-seven judges.
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956: The principal act governing the numerical strength of Supreme Court judges, which this 2026 amendment modifies.
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026: A prior legislative instrument that is repealed and replaced by the current Amendment Act, with its actions saved under the new law.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The nodal ministry (Legislative Department) responsible for the drafting and publication of this legal amendment.
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EXTRAORDINARY
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PART II — Section 1
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PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
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No. 29] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026/SRAVANA 20, 1948 (Saka)
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Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 11th August, 2026/Sravana 20, 1948 (Saka)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the
11th August, 2026 and is hereby published for general inforBmialltiNono:.— 128-F of 2026
THE TSUHPER SEUMPRE ECMOUE RCTO (UNRUTM (BNEURM OBFE JRU DOGFEJUS)D AGMEESN) DMENT
AMENDAMCETN, 2T0 B26ILL, 2026
(AS PASSED BY THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT)
No. 14 of 2026
A
[11th August, 2026.]
BILL
An Act further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act,1956.
furtherto amend the Supreme Court (NumberofJudges)Act,1956.
BEit enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of
India as follows:––
1. (1) This Act may be called the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Short title and
AmendmentAct, 2026. commencement.
(2)It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 16th day of May, 2026.
55 of 1956. 2. In section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, for the Amendment of
word “thirty-three”, the word “thirty-seven” shall be substituted. section 2.2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2IA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—
Repeal and 3.(1) The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 Ord. 1 of 2026.
savings. is hereby repealed.
(2)Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 as amended by the said Ordinance, 55 of 1956.
shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of
the said Act as amended by this Act.
———
The above Bill has been passed by the Houses of Parliament.
DR. RAJIV MANI,
Secretary to the Govt. of India.
I hereby certify that this Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of
article 110 of the Constitution of India.
Dated the Speaker.
———
I assent to this Bill.
Dated the President.
UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002
AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.
MGIPMRND—504GI(S4)—11-08-2026.