Special Intensive Revision

In one line: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a detailed exercise to verify and update electoral rolls, including removing ineligible names.

Legal basis

Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 lets the Election Commission order a special revision of rolls, with reasons recorded.

Why it is contested

Revisions aim to remove duplicate, dead or ineligible voters, which strengthens roll integrity. But large-scale deletions risk excluding genuine voters, especially those without documents. Critics have questioned verification methods and transparency, while the Commission says revisions are routine and lawful.

The 2026 angle

The reported objections by two Election Commissioners related to decisions in the SIR, including additions and deletions of names, which is why the exercise sits at the heart of the 2026 dispute over the Commission's functioning.

Where to go next

• Article 324: The constitutional home of the Election Commission
• Anoop Baranwal judgment: How the Supreme Court tried to fix appointments in 2023