A Need for Nationwide SIR

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 –Representation of People’s Act

Introduction

India’s electoral roll is now a dynamic national database. Precision is vital. After a contentious Bihar drive, a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR 2.0) has been announced. It is presented as paperless, people-friendly, and robust. Yet a core weakness remains: duplicate voter entries. This is not usually fraud. It is a procedural lapse when people shift residence. SIR 2.0 must close this gap through clear rules, timely action, and smart use of technology. A Need for Nationwide SIR.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a focused, time-bound exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and verify the accuracy of electoral rolls.

Electoral revisions are of 3 types:

• Summary Revision: Annual revision of electoral rolls for routine maintenance; no door-to-door verification.
• Intensive Revision: Major overhaul of electoral rolls; includes door-to-door verification.
• Special Revision: Undertaken in exceptional cases such as missed areas, large-scale errors, or legal/political exigencies.

Unlike routine summary revisions, which are annual and involve only minor updates, an intensive revision involves full, fresh preparation of electoral rolls through house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to ensure that:

• All eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls.
• Ineligible or duplicate entries are removed.
• !The voter list is accurate, inclusive, and transparent.

SIR Legal Backing

SIR is anchored in the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which requires accurate and up-to-date electoral rolls and prohibits duplication. SIR is the operational drive that applies these statutory duties at scale so that each elector has only one valid entry.

Core prohibitions.

• Section 17 bars a person from being registered in more than one constituency.
• Section 18 bars multiple entries within the same constituency. These provisions make duplicate listings a legal violation.

Movement and updating of entries (change of residence).

• Section 22(b) enables transposition within the same constituency when a voter shifts residence.
• Section 23(2) governs inclusion in a new constituency after a move and requires the new ERO, once satisfied, to inform the previous ERO, who must strike off the old entry. The law expects these steps to be accurate, prompt, and simultaneous.

Administrative responsibility: The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) carry the primary responsibility to execute transposition, inclusion, and deletion correctly to prevent duplicates.

Procedure Followed for Change Requests

The EC has consolidated change-of-residence and correction provisions in Form 8. Address updates fall into four types:
(I) No change in constituency or polling station.
(II) Same constituency, different polling station.
(III) New constituency within the same State.
(IV) New constituency in a new State.
Type IV moves most often create double entries when deletion at the previous place lags behind inclusion at the new place.

Form 6 is for fresh inclusion; if a voter hides an existing registration, it is a false declaration and a legal violation. Accountability is shared by the applicant and the officials who verify.

Digital backbone

• The roll runs on ECINet, a nationwide digital system managed by C-DAC, Pune. Every voter has a unique EPICnumber, which supports a single verifiable entry.
• ECINet can detect duplicates, flag inconsistencies, and enable corrections through authorised verification. It should also retain a traceable update history to show what changed, when, and by whom.

Major Concern Related to SIR

1. Persistent duplicate entries: Many voters are listed twice when they shift homes. Names get added at the new address but are not deleted from the old roll. This weakens public trust.
2. Administrative delay: Detection tools exist, but action is slow. Deletion and coordination lag between Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), so errors stay in the system.
3. EPIC-linked inconsistencies: Duplicates appear with different EPICs or sometimes the same EPIC in two places. Both situations point to weak end-to-end checks during updates.
4. Verification gaps: When Form 6 is used for fresh inclusion without declaring an existing registration, it creates unlawful duplication. Verification should catch false declarations.
5. Accountability shortfalls: Primary responsibility lies with the concerned EROs. Without clear ownership and timely follow-through, even a paperless SIR cannot deliver credibility.
6. Credibility risks: Ongoing duplication invites judicial questions and public criticism.

Way forward

1. Pre-clean the roll before SIR 2.0 begins: The EC should flag suspected duplicates, verify them, and delete outdated entries so the drive starts from a clean baseline.
2. Software-led validation: ECINet should auto-flag potential duplicates, verify them through software-led checks, strike off the older entry immediately, and record every change with who approved it and when.
3. ECINet as a reliable public utility: The platform must be intuitive, stable, and responsive for administrators and citizens, so corrections happen smoothly.
4. Integrate Aadhaar: Seamless Aadhaar checks should strengthen uniqueness and reduce duplication through clear, auditable workflows.
5. Real-time grievance redressal with a feedback loop: A live, trackable dispute window should replace queues, and its insights should feed a self-correcting system that prevents repeat errors.

Conclusion

SIR 2.0 must not become another bureaucratic ritual. The law already prohibits duplication, and the platform can detect it. The missing link is timely deletion, ERO coordination, and accountable follow-through. If ECINet is used to its full potential—pre-cleaning data, validating in real time, retaining audit history, integrating for independent checks, and resolving disputes promptly—future SIRs will be unnecessary. Electoral rolls will stay accurate, updated, and verifiable by design. This is how trust in India’s elections is secured

For detailed information on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls – Significance & Challenges read this article here

Question for practice:

Discuss the major concerns in SIR 2.0 and the key steps needed to ensure a clean, accurate, and duplication-free electoral roll.

Source: The Hindu