Overview
- India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, launched on July 1, is reviewing entries for accuracy in a second phase covering about 51 crore voters across 1,843 assembly constituencies in 321 districts of 12 states to remove ineligible names and include eligible citizens.
- As of December 3, the Election Commission reported 99% distribution of SIR forms with over 93% digitized, alongside more than 4,700 all-party meetings attended by 28,000 political representatives to support transparency.
- The Supreme Court has rejected petitions claiming the SIR is unnecessary or beyond the ECI’s powers, and noted during a November 26 hearing that no ineligible voters removed in Bihar had filed objections.
- Opposition figures contend the process could marginalize minority voters, and critics have alleged local obstruction and threats in West Bengal, reflecting intensifying political contention around the exercise.
- The Commission plans to publish the final rolls on February 16, 2026, followed by a one-month window for claims and objections, as commentary also renews calls to bolster the ECI’s independence and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.