Paper: GS – II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Context:
The Election Commission has begun the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 12 States and UTs, covering 51 crore voters to ensure accurate and transparent electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Key Takeaways:
What is an Electoral Roll?
- Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and State legislatures with the ECI.
- Article 326 states that every citizen not less than 18 years of age is entitled to be registered as a voter (elector).
The Legal Basis of Electoral Roll Revisions:
- Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, empowers the ECI to prepare and revise electoral rolls for each constituency.
| Types of Electoral Roll Revisions: | |
| Intensive Revision | An intensive revision involves a complete and fresh preparation of electoral rolls through a house-to-house enumeration. This is done when the ECI determines that the current rolls are outdated, inaccurate, or require complete rebuilding, typically before major elections or after administrative exercises such as delimitation of constituencies. |
| Summary Revision | It is a routine annual updating, in which existing rolls are published as drafts, and citizens file claims for inclusion, deletion, or correction. There are no door-to-door visits. |
| Special Revision | It is undertaken in exceptional cases, such as missed areas, large-scale errors, or legal or political exigencies. The ECI may, under Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, conduct a special revision using either summary or intensive methods, or a combination of both.The nomenclature ‘SIR’ indicates that the ECI is exercising its discretionary powers under Section 21(3) of the 1950 law, which permits it to revise electoral rolls “in such manner as it thinks fit”. |
- In June 2025, the ECI issued an order launching a Special Intensive Revision across the country, starting with Bihar, where Assembly elections are due in November 2025.
- The Commission designated July 1, 2025, as the qualifying date for inclusion in the rolls.
Role of Citizens and Political Stakeholders in Electoral Revision:
SIR 2.0 strengthens India’s electoral integrity by ensuring clean and inclusive voter rolls. Despite political concerns, the EC views it as a constitutional step toward transparent and credible elections.
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