Three New Supreme Court Judges Appointed: Working Strength Rises to 37
Super Admin··5 min read
Recently, a major change was witnessed in the Indian judiciary when three senior judges took the oath of office and secrecy as new Supreme Court judges. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant administered the oath to these new judges on Tuesday, after which the total number of working judges in the Supreme Court has increased to 37. This news is extremely important for students preparing for upcoming competitive exams, especially UPSC, State PSC, and Judiciary Exams, as questions related to the appointment of new Supreme Court judges and the structure of the judiciary are frequently asked in exams.
Appointment of Three New Judges in the Supreme Court: Key Highlights
Taking a significant step in the history of the Indian judiciary, three new judges have been appointed to the Supreme Court. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had announced the government's approval of these three names on Monday. Following this, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant administered the oath of office to them on Tuesday in a dignified ceremony held at the auditorium of the new Supreme Court block.
With this appointment, there has been a major improvement in the working strength of judges in the Supreme Court. The total number of judges in the court has now increased to 37, which is just one short of the sanctioned strength. Following the notification issued by the Ministry of Law, the names of these new Supreme Court judges received formal approval from the President, and they assumed their charge.
Brief Profile of the Newly Appointed Judges
The judicial careers of all three judges elevated to the Supreme Court have been highly distinguished and inspiring. Let us know about them in brief:
1. Justice Sunita Agarwal
Justice Sunita Agarwal originally belongs to the Allahabad High Court. Before being elevated to the Supreme Court, she was serving as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. She has become the 13th female judge of the Supreme Court, which is a major milestone towards women empowerment in the country's judicial history.
2. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya also originally hails from the Allahabad High Court. Just before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he was serving as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He possesses extensive experience in civil, criminal, and constitutional matters.
3. Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh is originally associated with the Jharkhand High Court. Before becoming a Supreme Court judge, he was serving as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. During his long judicial career, he has delivered several landmark and far-reaching judgments.
Sanctioned Strength and Current Status of Judges in the Supreme Court
Some major legislative changes have been made recently regarding the strength of judges in the Supreme Court. In the year 2026, through an ordinance and subsequently a parliamentary amendment, the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court was increased to 38 (including the Chief Justice).
The table below clearly illustrates the current status of Supreme Court judges:
| Description | Number / Details |
|---|---|
| Total Sanctioned Strength | 38 (including CJI) |
| Current Working Strength | 37 (including CJI) |
| Vacant Posts | 01 |
| Current Female Judges | 03 |
| Date of Oath | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 |
| Oath Administered By | CJI Suryakant |
Important Takeaway: Following these appointments, the disposal of pending cases in the Supreme Court is expected to speed up. With only one vacancy remaining, the court will now be able to function at almost its full capacity, making the justice delivery system more robust.
Women Representation and Its Importance
With Justice Sunita Agarwal taking the oath in the Supreme Court, the number of female judges in the apex court has now increased to three. This is considered an extremely commendable step towards increasing gender diversity and women's participation in the Indian judiciary.
Justice Sunita Agarwal is the second female judge to be recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice Suryakant. Prior to this, the Collegium had recommended the name of Justice V. Mohana, following which she was appointed to the Supreme Court. This growing number of female judges at the highest level of the judiciary is a great inspiration for the country's young female lawyers and law students.
Important General Knowledge (GK) for Competitive Exams
If you are preparing for Civil Services (UPSC), State PSC, or Judiciary Exams, the following points are extremely important from the perspective of Indian Polity and Current Affairs:
- Collegium System: The appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges is done through the Collegium System. This Collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and consists of the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
- Oath of Office: According to the Indian Constitution, the oath of office and secrecy to Supreme Court judges is administered by the President of India or some person appointed by him for this purpose (usually the CJI).
- Article 124 of the Constitution: Article 124 of the Indian Constitution deals with the establishment, constitution, appointment of judges, and their qualifications for the Supreme Court.
- Increase in the Number of Judges: The Parliament has the exclusive power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court by making a law. Recently, it has been increased to 38.
For in-depth preparation and daily updates on all these important topics, you can take the help of special study guides and test series from Patamde Study. On our website, you will find detailed and exam-oriented notes on all chapters of Indian Polity.
Conclusion
The appointment of three senior judges as new Supreme Court judges will make the Indian judiciary more robust and sensitive. With the current strength of 37 judges, the country's apex court will now be able to fulfill its goal of providing speedy justice to the public more effectively. Especially, the increase in female representation promotes inclusivity in the judiciary.
Candidates preparing for competitive exams should keep a close eye on such important current affairs. Stay connected with Patamde Study for other exam-useful information, current affairs, and precise study material to give your preparation the right direction.
