New Delhi, May 18 -- President Droupadi Murmu has enforced an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI), raising the total strength of the apex court to 38 judges.

Ordinance Issued Under Article 123

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, amends Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 by replacing the word 'thirty-three' with 'thirty-seven.'

The official gazette notification stated that "Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that the circumstances exist which render it necessary for her to take immediate action."

The ordinance was issued under Article 123 of the Constitution, wh...