Nearly 6 crore names deleted in first year of SIR of electoral rolls

📌 Summary:

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has completed one year, leading to the deletion of nearly 6 crore voters nationwide
• The exercise is currently underway in 19 States and Union Territories
• The pilot SIR began in Bihar on June 24, 2025, ahead of the Assembly polls; Bihar's voters' list was pruned by nearly 65 lakh
• The drive has triggered sharp friction between the Opposition and the Election Commission of India (ECI)
• Opposition parties and activists allege the ECI is acting at the behest of the ruling party to disenfranchise citizens who lack documents

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Elections, Representation of the People Act, and the role/independence of the Election Commission; debates on electoral roll integrity vs. risk of disenfranchisement

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SIR = Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, conducted by the ECI
• Pilot launched in Bihar (June 24, 2025); ~65 lakh names removed there
• Currently running across 19 States/UTs; ~6 crore deletions in one year

🔑 Key Term: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) — a door-to-door, document-based cleanup of electoral rolls to remove ineligible/duplicate/deceased entries and add eligible voters