The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a significant verification process of electoral rolls overseen by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This exercise is initiated when the regular annual revisions are deemed inadequate. The SIR involves a comprehensive house-to-house verification, where citizens submit pre-filled forms, online applications, and existing voter data is re-verified.
The authority for conducting the SIR is derived from Article 324 of the Indian Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This legal framework ensures the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process.
The SIR process was initiated by the ECI in June 2025, highlighting issues such as rapid urbanization and migration due to education and employment needs. The commission argued that these demographic changes warranted a thorough update of electoral rolls, as it had been nearly two decades since the last comprehensive revision.
However, the initiative faced legal challenges. Senior counsel pointed out that the SIR order from June 2025 did not explicitly mention citizenship verification. The ECI's primary reasons concentrated on internal migration, driven by opportunities linked to education and urbanization.
Moreover, concerns were raised that the ECI's rationale, originally based on the situation in Bihar, was being inappropriately applied to other industrialized states like Tamil Nadu. These issues led the Supreme Court to scrutinize the term "migration" and the ECI’s authority in the SIR context.
The Supreme Court examined whether migration could encompass population movements across international borders, particularly from neighboring countries drawn to India's economic and urban prospects. The Court noted that migration should not be confined to internal movements and could include transnational aspects.
It acknowledged that SIR exercises occur approximately once every twenty years, differing from routine annual revisions, and therefore require a broader perspective. However, the Court recognized that there are constitutional restrictions regarding judicial involvement in administrative matters.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court deliberated on the ECI's constitutional ability to verify citizenship using documents such as Aadhaar. This verification process is essential for ensuring the "purity of electoral rolls," thereby supporting the ECI’s argument that citizenship status verification is vital for maintaining the integrity of free and fair elections.
Q1. What does the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) entail?
Answer: The SIR is a comprehensive verification of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India, involving house-to-house checks and data re-verification to ensure electoral integrity.
Q2. Why was the SIR process initiated in June 2025?
Answer: The SIR was initiated due to rapid urbanization and increased migration for education and employment, highlighting the need for an updated electoral roll after nearly twenty years.
Q3. What legal challenges did the SIR face?
Answer: The SIR faced challenges regarding the lack of explicit mention of citizenship verification and concerns about applying Bihar-specific reasons to other states like Tamil Nadu.
Q4. How does the Supreme Court view migration in the context of SIR?
Answer: The Supreme Court recognized that migration could include both internal and cross-border movements, emphasizing the need for a broader interpretation in the SIR context.
Q5. Can the Election Commission verify citizenship using Aadhaar?
Answer: Yes, the Supreme Court supported the notion that verifying citizenship status through documents like Aadhaar is essential for maintaining the integrity of electoral rolls.
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
A) To conduct regular elections
B) To verify electoral rolls comprehensively
C) To increase voter participation
D) To gather demographic data
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: Which article of the Constitution authorizes the Election Commission to conduct SIR?
A) Article 21
B) Article 324
C) Article 14
D) Article 19
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: When was the SIR process initiated by the Election Commission?
A) June 2020
B) June 2025
C) June 2015
D) June 2018
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: What was a significant concern regarding the SIR process?
A) Lack of funding
B) Citizenship verification issues
C) Timing of elections
D) Technology used
Correct Answer: B
Question 5: How often does the SIR exercise take place?
A) Every year
B) Every five years
C) Every twenty years
D) Every ten years
Correct Answer: C
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