Nearly 99% Electors Have Received SIR Forms, Says Election Commission

Context:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that 98.54% of nearly 51 crore electors across 12 States and Union Territories have received enumeration forms under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

• The exercise is critical to ensure accurate, inclusive, and up-to-date voter lists, especially ahead of Assembly elections scheduled in 2026 in several States.

Key Highlights:

Coverage and Progress of SIR

• Enumeration phase commenced on November 4 and will continue until December 4.

• Draft electoral rolls to be published on December 7.

• Claims and objections period will follow.

• Final electoral rolls scheduled for release on February 9.

Extent of Form Distribution and Digitisation

• Out of the forms received:

  • 6 crore forms (11.76%) have been digitised so far.

• Goa has emerged as the best-performing State in digitisation.

• Uttar Pradesh currently records the lowest level of digitisation.

States and UTs Covered

• Nine States:

  • Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

• Three Union Territories:

  • Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep

Election-linked Significance

• Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are due for Assembly elections in 2026, making the revision particularly significant.

• A separate special revision has been announced for Assam, where elections are also due in 2026.

Role of Digitisation

• Digitisation aims to:

  • Improve accuracy and accessibility of electoral data

  • Minimise errors, duplication, and fraud

  • Enable smoother voter verification and roll management

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR):

  • A focused exercise by the Election Commission to comprehensively update electoral rolls.

• Electoral Roll:

  • Official list of eligible voters under Article 326 (adult suffrage).

• Key Dates:

  • Enumeration: Nov 4 – Dec 4

  • Draft roll: Dec 7

  • Final roll: Feb 9

• Digitisation:

  • Conversion of physical voter data into digital records for efficiency and transparency.

• Institution Involved:

  • Election Commission of India – constitutional authority under Article 324.

Relevant Mains Points:

• Constitutional and Institutional Framework:

  • Article 324 entrusts ECI with superintendence, direction, and control of elections.

  • Electoral roll preparation is foundational to free and fair elections.

• Governance and Democratic Significance:

  • Accurate voter lists prevent exclusion, impersonation, and electoral malpractice.

  • Periodic revisions strengthen electoral integrity and public trust.

• Administrative Challenges:

  • Uneven digitisation across States.

  • Capacity constraints in large States like Uttar Pradesh.

• Way Forward:

  • Accelerate end-to-end digitisation with uniform standards.

  • Enhance Booth Level Officer (BLO) training and accountability.

  • Increase voter awareness to encourage timely corrections.

  • Integrate technology while ensuring data privacy and inclusion.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS Paper 2: Election Commission, electoral reforms, democratic governance

• Prelims: SIR, electoral rolls, digitisation, constitutional bodies