Chief Election Commossioner Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi addrtessing the media on Bihar Election at Vigyan Bhawan , New Delhi | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a large-scale verification and updating of the electoral list. This was ordered by the Election Commission of India under Article 324 of the Constitution, Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Its objective is to ensure that the electoral rolls are accurate, error-free, and inclusive—particularly ahead of elections to Lok Sabha or State Assemblies.

What does Phase II of the SIR aim to do?

The first phase of the SIR was conducted in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in that state scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results on November 14.

The second phase of SIR, starting November 4, 2025, will cover 12 States and Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The final electoral rolls will be published on February 7, 2026, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday.

Among these, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry are due for Assembly elections in 2026. Assam, which also votes next year, has been excluded as its citizenship rules differ from the rest of the country. A separate schedule will be announced later for the Northeast.

ECI’s Phase II timeline

What are the key changes made in phase II, based on the Bihar experience?

Following criticism and legal scrutiny during the Bihar SIR, the ECI has revised several procedures to enhance transparency, fairness, and inclusivity:

Extended notice period: a 54-day window for verification and hearings replaces the earlier compressed timeline to allow more thorough review and to prevent hasty deletions.

Protection for vulnerable voters: Special facilitation has been ordered for the elderly, sick, poor, and PwD voters, with volunteers assisting Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to prevent wrongful disenfranchisement.

Enhanced digital systems: The ECINET software is being upgraded with a simpler interface, faster issue resolution, and better grievance handling—though accessibility concerns persist for those lacking digital literacy.

Stricter oversight of deletions: Acting on Supreme Court directions, the ECI will publish lists of deleted names with reasons and ensure greater scrutiny to prevent wrongful removals.

Aadhaar will be accepted as one of 12 identity documents for verification (but not as proof of citizenship).

Improved field verification: BLOs will visit each household up to three times for data confirmation. Voters may also submit forms online, while Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will verify eligibility if names are missing from the 2003 reference list.

The ECI also emphasised that there were “zero appeals” against wrongful deletions in Bihar, and its final roll was published on September 30, 2025.

Will these changes make the process smoother?

Phase II is widely seen as an improved and more transparent version of the Bihar exercise. However, opposition parties and civil society groups remain cautious, pledging to closely monitor fairness, transparency, and voter inclusion during implementation.

Why are some states opposing the nationwide SIR?

Certain states and UTs have voiced reservations over the timing and intent of the nationwide rollout.

West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress, though less confrontational than during the Bihar SIR, continues to express fear over politically motivated voter exclusions. If that happens, they said they will resort to protest.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the ECI’s decision to expand the SIR before the Bihar poll results, calling it a premature move.

Published on October 28, 2025