The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a comprehensive concept and exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the accuracy and purity of voter lists. Its legal basis is rooted in Article 324 of the Constitution, which grants the ECI the power of superintendence over elections, and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which empowers the Commission to direct a special revision at any time for recorded reasons. The earliest intensive revisions were conducted between 1952-1956 to create reliable voter databases for India's nascent democracy.
The SIR mechanism is a large-scale, time-bound drive that involves a thorough revision of the electoral roll, often from scratch. It works through house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), fresh enumeration of voters, and verification of old voter data. The primary objective is to eliminate names of deceased, permanently shifted, duplicate, and non-citizen voters, while ensuring the inclusion of every eligible citizen aged 18 and above, as guaranteed by Article 326.
The SIR is distinct from the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR), as it is a far more comprehensive exercise that combines features of a full enumeration with summary updates. A recent nationwide SIR process was announced on October 27, 2025, with a major implementation in Bihar in 2025. The process has recently been connected to judicial review, with the Supreme Court making an interim observation on July 10, 2025, suggesting the ECI consider documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, and Voter ID for enumeration if voters could not submit other valid documents. While the core legal provision in Section 21(3) remains, the process has adapted to address issues like large-scale additions and deletions due to urbanisation and migration.