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EC to Launch Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in 22 States/UTs from April 2026

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
19 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:April 202622 States/UTsJune 24 202512 States/UTs (Oct 2025)
Bodies:Election Commission of IndiaSupreme Court of India
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What This Article Covers

1.The Election Commission (EC) has set April 2026 as the start date for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the remaining 22 states and Union Territories.

2.The SIR process requires all existing voters to submit fresh enumeration forms, with some categories needing to submit additional documents to establish citizenship.

3.This exercise, ordered in June 2025 and challenged in the Supreme Court, represents the first intensive revision since the early 2000s, moving away from the routine annual updates.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Election Commission has directed its Chief Electoral Officers to begin preparatory work for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls starting April 2026. This process, which involves fresh preparation of rolls and citizenship verification, marks a significant shift from annual updates and is currently under Supreme Court scrutiny.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

SIR Start DateApril 2026
States/UTs Covered22
First SIR StateBihar (started earlier)
States with SIR in Oct 202512 States/UTs
State Excluded from SIRAssam
Last Intensive RevisionEarly 2000s

1-Minute Revision

  • ›SIR Start Date: April 2026
  • ›States/UTs Covered: 22
  • ›Target this Data: SIR to start in April 2026 for 22 States/UTs.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: SIR challenged under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which Article of the Constitution of India is the Election Commission established?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls:

1. It involves the preparation of electoral rolls afresh, requiring all existing voters to submit enumeration forms.

2. The process was first initiated in Bihar due to its upcoming Assembly elections.

3. Assam has been excluded from the SIR process because its electoral rolls are already up-to-date.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

In how many states and Union Territories is the Election Commission set to start the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in April 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary legal ground on which the Election Commission's SIR order has been challenged in the Supreme Court?

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