Record Number of Women on India’s Supreme Court

India’s Supreme Court now has four female judges.

That’s more than the 34-member court has ever had before. The new record was reached when India swore in nine new judges on August 31. Three new female judges joined Justice Indira Banerjee, who was already a member of the court. Now, for the first time, India is expecting to have a female chief justice. B.V. Nagarathna is scheduled to become the chief justice of India’s supreme court in September of 2027.

While some people are pleased at the progress, others are disappointed that there hasn’t been more progress. Since 1950, just 4.2% of India’s Supreme Court judges have been women. And Justice Nagarathna is scheduled to retire just one month after she becomes chief justice.