INDIAN POLITY

Ordinance Increasing Supreme Court Judges Strength

• Context: President has promulgated an ordinance increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India. 
• The number of judges has been increased from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). 

Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956

• When the ‘Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act’ was enacted in 1956, the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India was fixed as follows:

• 10 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

Increase in strength through the 1960 Amendment Act:

• From 10 to 13 judges (excluding the Chief Justice).
• Subsequently expanded to 17 judges.

1986 Amendment Act – Increase to 25 Judges

• In 1986, another Amendment Act significantly expanded the number of judges in the Court

• The number of judges was increased from 17 to 25.

2009 Amendment Act – Increase to 30 Judges

• In 2009, Parliament once again amended the Act to address the increasing workload of the judiciary.

2019 Amendment Act – Current Strength of the Supreme Court

• The total number of judges, including the Chief Justice of India, was fixed at 34.

Total Judicial Strength

• With this amendment: 

• Total sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court rises from 34 to 38 judges, including the CJI. 

Constitutional Provision

• The ordinance was issued under: 

• Article 123 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session. 

• The ordinance is titled: 

• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. 

Parliamentary Approval

• • The ordinance will be placed before both Houses of Parliament after reassembly. 

• It will cease to operate: 

• If Parliament does not approve it within six weeks of reassembly, or 
• If both Houses pass resolutions disapproving it. 

• The President also has the power to withdraw the ordinance. 

Reason for Increasing Judges

• • The move aims to address the growing pendency of cases in the Supreme Court. 

• The backlog has crossed: 

• 93,000 pending cases. 

• Pendency increased further after the COVID-19 pandemic due to greater use of e-filing systems. 

Constitutional Background

• Originally, Article 124(1) of the Constitution provided for: 

• The Chief Justice of India and not more than seven judges. 

• Parliament was empowered to increase the number through legislation.
  Current Facts

  Pokhran-I

  • Operation Smiling Buddha (Pokhran-I) was India’s first nuclear weapons test. It was conducted on May 18, 1974, at 8:05 AM (IST) at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, amidst strict military security and secrecy.
  • This test utilized an indigenously developed, plutonium-based implosion device, created by Indian scientists through the coordinated efforts of BARC, DRDO, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Indian Army.
  • Conducted under the supervision of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the test was officially described as a “Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (PNE),” reflecting India’s policy stance at the time.
  • This undertaking demonstrated India’s strategic autonomy and indigenous nuclear capabilities. With this achievement, India earned the distinction of becoming the first nation outside the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5) to conduct a nuclear test.

  Committee on Empowerment of Women

  • Context: Lok Sabha speaker has constituted the Committee on Empowerment of Women.
  • Daggubati Purandeswari has been appointed as the Chairperson of the committee.

  About the Committee on Empowerment of Women

  • The committee was first formed on April 29, 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha. 
  • The committee has a total strength of 30 members: 
  • 20 members are nominated by the Speaker from the Lok Sabha. 
  • 10 members are nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from among Rajya Sabha members. 
  • The duration of the committee is not more than one year. 
  • It is reconstituted annually. 

  Working Principle

  • Members of the committee are expected to function collectively beyond party differences for the cause of women’s empowerment and welfare. 

  Functions of the Committee

  Review of NCW Reports

  • Examines reports submitted by the National Commission for Women. 
  • Recommends measures that the Union Government should adopt to improve the condition and status of women. 

  Ensuring Equality and Dignity

  • Studies the initiatives taken by the Central Government to guarantee equality, dignity, and better status for women in all spheres. 

  Education and Representation

  • Evaluates steps taken to promote: 
  • Comprehensive education for women 
  • Adequate representation of women in legislatures, public services, and other sectors 

  Monitoring Welfare Schemes

  • Reviews the implementation and effectiveness of welfare programmes meant for women. 

  Action Taken Reports

  • Assesses the action taken by the Union Government and Union Territory administrations on recommendations made by the committee.
    Current Facts

    About EDII

    • Established in 2001, the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute (EDII), Chennai, stands as a premier organization in Tamil Nadu in the fields of entrepreneurship education and self-employment development.
    • EDII was constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu as a non-profit society.
    • It functions under the administrative control of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department.