According to the commonly used sanctioned strength in Indian polity questions, how many judges including the Chief Justice were provided for in the Supreme Court of India under the traditional Supreme Court Number of Judges Act?

Introduction / Context:
The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India has changed over time as Parliament amended the relevant law to respond to growing caseloads. Many traditional general knowledge and polity questions refer to a specific number that was for a long period the standard sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India. This question asks you to recall that commonly cited number from the traditional Supreme Court Number of Judges Act as it appeared in many exam syllabi.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the sanctioned number of judges in the Supreme Court of India, including the Chief Justice.
• Options given are 25, 28, 31, and 35.
• We assume the context of classic multiple choice questions that referred to the earlier statutory strength that remained in place for many years.
• The focus is on recognising the number historically used in standard polity questions.

Concept / Approach:
The Supreme Court Number of Judges Act has been amended several times to change the sanctioned strength of the Court. For a long period that many exam books discuss, the Supreme Court could have up to 30 judges plus the Chief Justice, giving a total strength of 31. This figure became the standard answer in numerous general knowledge compilations. Although Parliament has since amended the law further, the traditional figure tested in legacy questions is 31 judges including the Chief Justice of India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Supreme Court Number of Judges Act specifies the maximum number of judges of the Supreme Court.Step 2: Remember that for many years, the law provided for 30 other judges plus the Chief Justice, making a total of 31.Step 3: Compare this historically important number with the options: 25, 28, 31, and 35.Step 4: Recognise that 31 matches the widely taught traditional sanctioned strength used in many examination questions.Step 5: Select 31 judges including the Chief Justice as the correct option in this context.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can look at older editions of Indian polity textbooks and competitive exam guides that list the composition of the Supreme Court. They commonly state that the Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of India and not more than 30 other judges, making a total of 31. While recent amendments may adjust this figure, the question as typically framed in general knowledge banks corresponds to the earlier statutory number of 31. This repeated usage in exam literature confirms that 31 is the expected answer when these four options are presented.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 25 judges including the Chief Justice: This number does not match the long standing statutory strength commonly cited in exam oriented polity material.
• 28 judges including the Chief Justice: Although the strength has changed at different times, 28 is not the classic figure that appears in most standard objective questions.
• 35 judges including the Chief Justice: This is higher than the traditional number referred to in such questions and was not the widely taught strength during the period most of these questions were framed.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up different numbers due to changes in the law or due to reading multiple sources. Another source of confusion is failing to note whether the question explicitly includes the Chief Justice in the count. In many exam questions the phrase used is judges including the Chief Justice. A good strategy is to link the traditional figure of 31 with the phrase 30 plus 1 and to remember that this was the long standing sanctioned strength used in older polity questions, even though actual numbers may be updated by later amendments.

Final Answer:
According to the traditionally cited sanctioned strength in many polity questions, the Supreme Court of India had 31 judges including the Chief Justice under the earlier Supreme Court Number of Judges Act provisions.