UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves increase in the Judge strength of the Supreme Court of India by Four to 37 from 33

Q1. Under which one of the following provisions of the Constitution of India is Parliament expressly empowered to prescribe, by law, a number of Judges of the Supreme Court greater than that originally fixed by the Constitution?

• A. Article 124(1)
• B. Article 124(2)
• C. Article 138(1)
• D. Article 145(1)

Q2. With reference to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 and its successive amendments, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The original 1956 Act fixed the strength of puisne judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) at ten.
2. The 1960 Amendment Act raised the strength of puisne judges to thirteen.
3. The strength of puisne judges fixed by the 1986 Amendment Act remained unchanged until the 2009 Amendment Act.
4. Every increase in the puisne judge strength since 1956 has required a constitutional amendment.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Union Cabinet's May 2026 decision on the strength of the Supreme Court of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Cabinet approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
2. The Bill raises the sanctioned strength of puisne judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) of the Supreme Court from 33 to 37.
3. After the amendment, the total sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court, inclusive of the Chief Justice of India, will be 37.
4. The additional expenditure on salaries and allowances of the new judges will be met from the Contingency Fund of India.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 and 4 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. Following the Union Cabinet's approval in May 2026 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, what is the highest sanctioned strength of puisne judges (i.e., excluding the Chief Justice of India) of the Supreme Court of India to date?

• A. 30
• B. 33
• C. 37
• D. 38

Q5. Under Article 124(3) of the Constitution of India, what is the minimum period for which a person must have been an advocate of a High Court (or of two or more such Courts in succession) to be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India?

• A. 5 years
• B. 7 years
• C. 10 years
• D. 15 years

Q6. With reference to the Collegium system for the appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court of India, who heads the Supreme Court Collegium?

• A. The President of India
• B. The Union Minister of Law and Justice
• C. The Chief Justice of India
• D. The senior-most puisne Judge of the Supreme Court

Q7. Under which one of the following statutes is the procedure for investigation and proof of misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge of the Supreme Court of India laid down?

• A. The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
• B. The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985
• C. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956
• D. The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958

Q8. The constitutional provision enabling the Parliament to provide for the creation of an All India Judicial Service, frequently invoked in the debate on judicial pendency and reforms, is contained in which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?

• A. Article 124
• B. Article 233
• C. Article 312
• D. Article 323A

Q9. According to the Department of Justice (Ministry of Law & Justice) data cited in its Year-End Review 2025, the number of cases pending in the Supreme Court of India as on 31st December 2025 was approximately:

• A. 64,000
• B. 80,000
• C. 92,000
• D. 1,20,000

Q10. Under which Article of the Constitution of India may the President refer a question of law or fact, which has arisen or is likely to arise and is of public importance, for the opinion of the Supreme Court?

• A. Article 131
• B. Article 137
• C. Article 143
• D. Article 138

Q11. In the context of the Supreme Court of India, the term 'original jurisdiction' under Article 131 most precisely refers to:

• A. the power of the Supreme Court to hear appeals directly from any court or tribunal in India by granting special leave
• B. the exclusive authority of the Supreme Court to entertain, at first instance, disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between two or more States, involving a question on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends
• C. the power of the Supreme Court to issue writs, including habeas corpus and mandamus, for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights
• D. the authority of the Supreme Court to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it, subject to law made by Parliament

Q12. Under the Constitution of India, when the office of the Chief Justice of India is vacant or when the Chief Justice is, by reason of absence or otherwise, unable to perform the duties of his office, the acting Chief Justice of India is appointed by which one of the following?

• A. The President of India
• B. The senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court assumes office automatically without any appointment
• C. The Collegium of the Supreme Court
• D. The Union Minister of Law and Justice on the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice