The Supreme Court of India
India's highest court, inaugurated in 1950, headed by the Chief Justice of India with a strength Parliament has raised several times.
What the paper can ask
- Inaugurated 28 January 1950; the Federal Court had sat from 1937 to 1950 in the same chamber.
- Original strength: Chief Justice plus 7 judges; raised several times, to 34 in 2019. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Sat in the old Parliament House till 1958, then moved to Tilak Marg.
- Chief Justice of India: Surya Kant. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- On 6 October 2026 three High Court Chief Justices, Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Aparesh Kumar Singh, were sworn in as Supreme Court judges. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Why exams ask
Retirement age, the first CJI, the collegium, landmark judgments and the newest judges are asked every month.
The full story
The Supreme Court of India is the final court of appeal and the guardian of the Constitution. It was inaugurated on 28 January 1950, two days after the Republic began, in the Chamber of Princes of Parliament House where the Federal Court had sat since 1937; it moved to its own building on Tilak Marg, New Delhi, in 1958. The Constitution first gave it a Chief Justice and seven judges; the sanctioned strength has been raised several times since.
In the news
- Supreme Court names ex-CJI Gavai to head panel on forest rights claims in Agasthyamalai 6 Nov
- Supreme Court: 24-hour clock to meet a magistrate starts at detention, not formal arrest 5 Nov
- Former Supreme Court judge Rajesh Bindal appointed NCLAT chairperson 5 Nov
- Supreme Court says two-child disqualification laws have lost relevance; refers Maharashtra provision to larger bench 4 Nov
Test yourself
1.Who was appointed in 1989 as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India?
Correct. Justice M. Fathima Beevi joined the Supreme Court on 6 October 1989 and was its first woman judge.
Not quite. Justice M. Fathima Beevi joined the Supreme Court on 6 October 1989 and was its first woman judge. It goes into your error book.
2.Which Act made the Governor of Bengal the Governor-General and set up a Supreme Court at Calcutta?
Correct. The Regulating Act 1773 made Warren Hastings Governor-General of Bengal and set up the Supreme Court at Fort William in 1774.
Not quite. The Regulating Act 1773 made Warren Hastings Governor-General of Bengal and set up the Supreme Court at Fort William in 1774. It goes into your error book.
3.Forms of oaths and affirmations for Union Ministers, Members of Parliament and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are given in which Schedule?
Correct. The Third Schedule gives the oath forms for ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges and the CAG. The President's oath is in Article 60 itself, the Governor's in Article 159.
Not quite. The Third Schedule gives the oath forms for ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges and the CAG. The President's oath is in Article 60 itself, the Governor's in Article 159. It goes into your error book.