"SIR Third Phase Removes Over 6 Crore Names from Draft Electoral Rolls"
Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
ECI's most comprehensive electoral roll revision, involving door-to-door BLO verification, conducted approximately once in 20 years.
ASDD Framework
Classification of voters as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate — the operative tool for identifying proposed deletions during SIR.
India's electoral roll management is grounded in Article 324 of the Constitution, which vests superintendence, direction, and control of elections in the Election Commission of India (ECI). The right to vote flows from Articles 325 and 326, which prohibit exclusion on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex, and guarantee adult suffrage to every citizen above 18 years. The statutory framework is the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RPA 1950), which governs preparation and revision of electoral rolls, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which prescribe the procedural mechanics of enrolment, deletion, and correction.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is the most comprehensive form of roll revision the ECI undertakes. It is distinct from routine annual summary revisions. It involves door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across every polling station, using Form 6 for new enrolments, Form 7 for deletions, and Form 8 for corrections. The ASDD framework, classifying voters as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate, is the operative tool for identifying names proposed for deletion. Because SIR is designed to be conducted only once in approximately 20 years, its scale and finality make procedural rigour especially critical.
The ECI's authority under Article 324 is plenary in character. The Supreme Court has consistently held that the Commission's powers are not exhausted by the enumerated provisions of the RPA 1950, and that it may take all necessary steps to ensure free and fair elections. However, this broad authority comes with a corresponding obligation of transparency and procedural fairness.
The claims-and-objections mechanism under the RPA allows citizens to challenge proposed deletions. This mechanism places the burden of proof on the elector, not on the state, a structural asymmetry that disadvantages mobile, migrant, and marginalised voters. A person who has shifted temporarily for work may be classified as 'Absent' under the ASDD framework and face deletion, even though they retain the legal right to vote from their registered constituency. …
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To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?
Consider the following statements regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls:
1.SIR is conducted under the authority of Article 324 of the Constitution read with the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
2.The ASDD framework classifies voters as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate for the purpose of identifying proposed deletions.
3.Form 6 is used for deletions, while Form 7 is used for new enrolments during SIR.
4.The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the SIR exercise.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the electoral roll revision process in India, consider the following pairs:
Process/Tool — Purpose
1.Form 6 — New enrolment of a voter
2.Form 7 — Deletion of a voter's name
3.Form 8 — Correction of entries in the electoral roll
4.ASDD Framework — Classification of voters for proposed deletion
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements regarding the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls:
1.SIR Phase 3 was carried out in 16 States and 3 Union Territories.
2.Approximately 17% of names on the electoral rolls in the covered states were removed in the draft rolls.
3.Maharashtra recorded the highest percentage of deletions among all states covered.
4.Assam underwent a 'special revision' instead of SIR due to the National Register of Citizens process.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Which of the following constitutional provisions form the primary basis for the Election Commission of India's authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls?
1.Article 324 — Superintendence, direction, and control of elections
2.Article 325 — No exclusion from electoral rolls on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex
3.Article 326 — Adult suffrage for every citizen above 18 years
4.Article 368 — Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Assertion (A): The claims-and-objections mechanism under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 places the burden of challenging proposed deletions on the elector, not on the state.
Reason (R): This structural design systematically disadvantages migrant and mobile voters who may be classified as 'Absent' under the ASDD framework during door-to-door verification.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Assertion and Reason?
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