By: Syed Zia ur Rahman, YaHind.com
New Delhi, October 27, 2025 – In a significant step towards ensuring the integrity and accuracy of India’s voter lists, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today unveiled the schedule for the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The announcement, made during a press conference at 4:30 PM at the Commission’s headquarters here, marks the beginning of the largest voter verification drive in over two decades.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by fellow commissioners, detailed the phased rollout, prioritizing states gearing up for Assembly elections in 2026. The first phase, commencing on November 1, will encompass 10 to 15 states and Union Territories, including poll-bound heavyweights like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. Other states such as Bihar, Delhi, and Uttarakhand are also expected to feature in the initial tranche.
“The pan-India SIR is a proactive measure to clean and update electoral rolls, making democracy more robust and inclusive,” CEC Kumar emphasized. “This exercise will involve door-to-door verification, claims and objections resolution, and the use of technology to minimize discrepancies. Aadhaar will be accepted solely as proof of identity, ensuring a fair process.”
The SIR process, last conducted comprehensively in 2002-2003, draws from the successful Bihar model earlier this year, where over three months, millions of entries were verified. In the upcoming phases, enrollment forms will require elector signatures and eligibility proofs, with draft rolls published by mid-January 2026 and final publications by early February. The ECI has directed states to defer revisions where local body polls are underway to avoid overburdening poll machinery.
Preparatory groundwork, including two conferences of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in September and October, has already mapped current electors against previous SIR data. In West Bengal, where the last SIR dates back to 2002, the Commission may deploy volunteers to aid booth-level officers amid ongoing controversies over BLO and ERO appointments.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin urged party cadres to remain vigilant, alleging potential misuse of the process to delete names, as claimed in Bihar. “We have the strength to counter any anti-democratic moves,” Stalin stated in a letter to DMK workers. Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed such concerns as “baseless fear-mongering,” with a senior leader hailing the SIR as a “transparency booster.”
Opposition voices, including from the Congress and Trinamool Congress, have raised apprehensions about the timing, especially in states like West Bengal and Kerala. However, ECI officials reassured that the exercise adheres to Supreme Court guidelines following recent legal challenges.
This pan-India initiative aligns with the broader vision of ‘One Nation, One Voter List,’ building on ECI’s June 24 notification for Bihar’s SIR. As India approaches a series of crucial state polls, the SIR is poised to add millions of eligible voters while weeding out ghosts and duplicates, fortifying the world’s largest democracy.
For state-wise schedules and participation guidelines, citizens are advised to visit the ECI website or contact local electoral offices. The Commission has also launched a helpline (1950) for queries.
Source: Agencies
