Supreme Court Judges Appointment 2026: 5 Best Official Facts

By Chandan Kumar ✓ Published on October 6, 2026 at 12:35 PM

Supreme Court judges appointment 2026 as President appoints three new apex court judges

In a landmark judicial expansion for the Indian higher judiciary, the President of India officially notified the Supreme Court judges appointment 2026 on October 5, 2026, elevating three Chief Justices of High Courts to the Supreme Court of India. In concurrent notifications issued by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice, the central government also approved the appointment of a new Additional Judge to the Delhi High Court.

Exercising powers conferred under Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President appointed Justice Sunita Agarwal (Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court), Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya (Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court), and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (Chief Justice of the High Court) as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. Additionally, under Clause (1) of Article 224, judicial officer Gurvinder Pal Singh was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court for a two-year tenure.

Quick Fact Sheet: Higher Judiciary Appointments 2026

Parameter	Official Details
Notification Type	Higher Judicial Appointments (Supreme Court & High Court)
Appointing Authority	President of India (Droupadi Murmu)
Administering Body	Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
Notification Date	October 5, 2026
New Supreme Court Judges	1. Justice Sunita Agarwal
	2. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya
	3. Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh
New High Court Judge	Gurvinder Pal Singh (Additional Judge, Delhi High Court)
Supreme Court Provision	Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India
High Court Provision	Article 224(1) of the Constitution of India
Tenure of Additional Judge	2 Years from assuming office

5 Best Official Facts: Supreme Court Judges Appointment 2026

Here are the 5 major official facts and constitutional highlights of the latest judicial elevations:

1. Elevation of Three Serving High Court Chief Justices to Apex Court

The appointments bring seasoned administrative and judicial experience to the apex bench. The three elevated judges were all serving as Chief Justices of major High Courts: Justice Sunita Agarwal was heading the Gujarat High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya was leading the Delhi High Court, and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was serving as Chief Justice. Their combined elevation reinforces judicial capacity across civil, criminal, and constitutional benches.

2. Strengthened Female Representation on the Supreme Court Bench

With the elevation of Justice Sunita Agarwal, the Supreme Court continues to bolster female representation on the highest bench. Justice Agarwal, who previously served as a senior judge of the Allahabad High Court before becoming Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, brings decades of landmark jurisprudence to the apex court.

3. Execution of the Collegium System Recommendations

These appointments were finalized following the unanimous recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and comprising the four senior-most puisne judges. The swift processing and presidential notification reflect institutional coordination between the judiciary and the executive under the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).

4. Expansion of the Delhi High Court Bench

Alongside the Supreme Court appointments, the President approved the appointment of judicial officer Gurvinder Pal Singh as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court for a period of two years. This elevation from the judicial service quota addresses the high volume of commercial, appellate, and writ litigation in the national capital.

5. Reinforcement of Full Sanctioned Strength in the Apex Court

The elevation of three judges addresses vacancies created by recent superannuations, helping the Supreme Court operate near its maximum sanctioned strength of 34 judges (including the Chief Justice of India). Maintaining full working strength is critical for clearing pending Constitution Benches and expediting special leave petitions (SLPs).

Profiles of the Newly Appointed Judges

Justice Sunita Agarwal: Born in 1966, she graduated in law from the University of Lucknow and enrolled as an advocate in 1990. Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 2011, she was appointed Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in July 2023.
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya: Born in 1965, he enrolled as an advocate in 1991 and practiced primarily at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. Elevated to the bench in 2011, he served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before being transferred to lead the Delhi High Court.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh: Born in 1965, he practiced before the Patna High Court and the Jharkhand High Court. Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Jharkhand High Court in 2012, he subsequently served as Chief Justice of the High Court.
Shri Gurvinder Pal Singh: A senior judicial officer with extensive trial court and appellate experience in the Delhi Higher Judicial Service, elevated as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court.

Static GK: Constitutional Provisions Governing Judicial Appointments

For candidates preparing for competitive exams, understanding the constitutional and procedural architecture of judicial appointments is essential:

Article 124(2) – Appointment of Supreme Court Judges:
- Every Judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President by warrant under their hand and seal.
- The appointment is made after consultation with such Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts as the President may deem necessary.
- In the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted.
Article 217 – Appointment of High Court Judges:
- High Court Judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI, the Governor of the State, and the Chief Justice of the High Court.
Article 224(1) – Appointment of Additional Judges:
- If by reason of any temporary increase in the business of a High Court or by reason of arrears of work, the President may appoint duly qualified persons to be Additional Judges for a period not exceeding two years.
Sanctioned Strength of the Supreme Court:
- Originally in 1950: 8 judges (1 CJI + 7 Judges).
- Current Strength: 34 judges (1 CJI + 33 Judges), amended via the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.
Retirement Age:
- Supreme Court Judges: 65 Years.
- High Court Judges: 62 Years.

High-Yield Takeaways for UPSC, SSC & Law Exams

Apex Court Elevations: Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh.
Delhi HC Elevation: Gurvinder Pal Singh (Additional Judge).
Constitutional Articles: Article 124(2) for Supreme Court; Article 224(1) for High Court Additional Judges.
Appointing Authority: President of India on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
Sanctioned Supreme Court Strength: 34 Judges (including CJI).
Supreme Court Retirement Age: 65 Years.

Practice Questions for Competitive Exams

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Under which Article of the Constitution of India does the President appoint Judges to the Supreme Court of India?

(a) Article 124(2)
(b) Article 217(1)
(c) Article 222
(d) Article 131

Answer: (a) Article 124(2)

Q2. What is the current maximum sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India, including the Chief Justice of India?

(a) 31
(b) 33
(c) 34
(d) 35

Answer: (c) 34

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding judicial appointments in India:

Additional Judges of a High Court are appointed under Article 224(1) for a period not exceeding two years.
The retirement age for a Judge of the Supreme Court is 65 years, while for a High Court Judge it is 62 years.
The Supreme Court Collegium for recommending Supreme Court judges comprises the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2, and 3

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who were the newly appointed Supreme Court judges in October 2026?

Under the Supreme Court judges appointment 2026, the President appointed three High Court Chief Justices to the apex court: Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh.

Who was appointed as the new Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court?

Judicial officer Gurvinder Pal Singh was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court for a period of two years under Article 224(1).

Under which constitutional provision are Supreme Court judges appointed?

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President of India under Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.

What is the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India?

The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is 34 judges, which includes the Chief Justice of India and 33 puisne judges.

How does the Collegium System recommend judges for appointment?

The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the apex court, assesses judicial merit, seniority, integrity, and regional representation before sending recommendations to the Union Law Ministry for presidential approval.