1. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Chief Electoral Officers in 22 States and Union Territories (UTs) to conclude preparatory activities for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, scheduled to commence in April 2026. This large-scale exercise aims to synchronize electoral data following significant demographic shifts and the upcoming 2027 Population Census. Key Summary Points • Scope and Coverage: The SIR will be conducted in 22 regions, including major states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Telangana, as well as several North-Eastern states and UTs like Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. • Core Objective: Unlike routine annual updates, the SIR involves a comprehensive door-to-door verification to eliminate \'ghost voters,\' remove deceased or migrated entries, and enroll first-time voters (18+). • Legacy Linkage: A critical component involves mapping current voters with the electoral rolls of 2002- 2004 (the last time a full SIR was conducted) to establish a \'legacy\' and ensure the integrity of the database. • Resource Management: The ECI is coordinating with Census authorities as both the SIR and the House Listing Phase of Census 2027 are slated to begin in April. Both rely on the same pool of human resources, primarily government school teachers. • Preparatory Milestones: States must finalize the training of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), rationalization of polling stations, and logistics for field verification before the April deadline. Constitutional & Legal Provisions • Article 324: Vests the \'superintendence, direction, and control\' of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections in the Election Commission of India. • Article 326: Guarantees Universal Adult Suffrage, stipulating that every citizen aged 18 or above is entitled to be registered as a voter unless disqualified by law. • Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950: o Section 21: Empowers the ECI to direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part thereof at any time, for reasons recorded in writing. o Section 13B: Provides for the appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to assist in the preparation and revision of rolls. • Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Prescribes the procedure for registration, including the forms for addition (Form 6), deletion (Form 7), and correction (Form 8). Key Definitions • Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A thorough, house-to-house verification process conducted to rebuild the electoral register from scratch or refine it deeply, typically used when the list has not been extensively updated for over a decade. • Booth Level Officer (BLO): A grass-roots level officer (usually a local government employee) who acts as the ECI\'s representative for a specific polling area, responsible for field verification of voter data. • Qualifying Date: The date (typically 1st January, April, July, or October) on which a citizen must have reached the age of 18 to be eligible for enrollment in the voter list.UPSC Relevance & Conclusion Relevance: For the Civil Services Exam, this topic falls under GS Paper-II (Polity & Governance) and Preliminary Exam (Indian Polity). It touches upon \'Constitutional Bodies,\' \'Electoral Reforms,\' and \'Administrative Coordination.\' Understanding the intersection of the Census and Electoral Rolls is vital for questions on federalism and administrative efficiency. Conclusion: The Special Intensive Revision 2026 is a vital step toward ensuring electoral integrity and the \'one person, one vote\' principle. By addressing long-standing inaccuracies and coordinating with the Census machinery, the ECI seeks to modernize India\'s democratic infrastructure while navigating the logistical challenge of mobilizing nearly 30 lakh personnel for dual national duties.