SIR in 22 States and U.T.s expected from April: EC, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission (EC) announced that the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists is expected to begin in April 2026 in 22 States and Union Territories.
• The SIR aims to map existing voters with the electoral roll of 2002-2004.
• The EC will coordinate with the Registrar General of India and the Census Commissioner to stagger the SIR and the Population Census 2027.
• Bihar was the first State to undergo the SIR process last year.

Detailed Insights:

• The special intensive revision (SIR) is being conducted in States and Union Territories where it has not yet been carried out, with the last SIR dating back to 2002-2004.
• Preparatory work for the SIR includes training booth-level officers (BLOs) and mapping existing voters with older electoral rolls.
• The Population Census 2027, involving house listing operations and the deployment of 30 lakh enumerators, is also scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, potentially overlapping with the SIR.
• In Assam, a special revision was conducted instead of SIR due to legal hurdles related to the incomplete National Register of Citizens (NRC) process.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A comprehensive review and update of voter lists to ensure accuracy and inclusivity.
• Booth-Level Officer (BLO): A grassroot-level election official responsible for voter registration and verification at the polling booth level.
• National Register of Citizens (NRC): A register containing the names of all genuine Indian citizens in a particular state.