The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in

Answer: (b) the Parliament

Article 124(1) fixes the Supreme Court at the Chief Justice and not more than seven other judges, but only 'until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number'. So only Parliament can raise the number, and it does so by passing an ordinary law. It does this by amending the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

• ✗ (a) The President appoints Supreme Court judges by warrant under Article 124(2). The President cannot change how many posts exist. A Bill to raise the number must be passed by Parliament.
• ✓ (b) Article 124(1) leaves the number of judges beyond seven to Parliament, which has used this power several times. The 1956 Act, as amended, now sets the ceiling.
• ✗ (c) The Chief Justice of India can ask the government for more judges. The Constitution gives him no power to fix or enlarge the Court's strength.
• ✗ (d) The Law Commission is an advisory body. It can recommend changes but has no constitutional or legal power to change the number of judges.
• • Since then In 2014 the maximum was 30 judges plus the CJI. Parliament raised it to 33 judges plus the CJI in 2019 by amending the 1956 Act. Each increase has been made by Parliament through law.

Remember · Article 124(1): the Supreme Court has the CJI plus the number of other judges Parliament fixes by law. Parliament raises the strength by amending the 1956 Act.

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2014, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error