Election Commission Orders 22 States to Complete Special Intensive Revision by April 2026
Updated (2 articles)
ECI Sends Formal Directive to Chief Electoral Officers On Feb 19, 2026, the Election Commission of India mailed a letter to the chief electoral officers of 22 states and union territories, instructing them to finish all preparatory work for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) before it begins in April 2026 [1]. The directive lists each jurisdiction—Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana and Uttarakhand—ensuring uniform coverage [1]. The commission emphasizes that the SIR will involve matching current voter entries with the 2002‑04 roll and training booth‑level officers for door‑to‑door enumeration [1].
Key Operational Tasks Include Roll Mapping and BLO Training The SIR preparation requires aligning the existing electoral roll with the 2002‑2004 revision database, a process termed “2002‑04 roll mapping” [1]. Simultaneously, the ECI will conduct intensive training for Booth Level Officers, who will later perform household visits to verify voter details [1]. The same pool of 30 lakh enumerators slated for the 2027 Census starting April 1 will be shared with the SIR, linking census and electoral operations [1].
Recent Phase History Shows Extensions and State Variations Bihar completed the first SIR phase ahead of its 2025 assembly election, setting a precedent for subsequent roll‑outs [1]. The second phase launched on Oct 27 2025 across 12 states and UTs, but several jurisdictions, notably Uttar Pradesh, received extensions, highlighting uneven timelines [1]. Assam opted for a separate special revision rather than the standard SIR due to unresolved National Register of Citizens issues, illustrating legal complexities that can alter the rollout [1].
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Timeline
2025 (early) – Assam conducts a separate special revision of its electoral roll instead of the standard SIR because unresolved National Register of Citizens (NRC) issues make the usual process untenable, highlighting how legal complications can force state‑specific roll updates[1].
2025 (early) – Bihar becomes the first state to complete a full Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ahead of its state legislative assembly election, demonstrating the feasibility of large‑scale roll cleaning before major polls[1].
Oct 27 2025 – The Election Commission launches the second phase of the SIR in 12 states and union territories (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan), marking the broadest rollout to date and setting the stage for further extensions, especially in Uttar Pradesh[1].
Nov 4 2025 – The SIR process begins in Uttar Pradesh, initiating door‑to‑door enumeration and roll mapping for the nation’s most populous state[2].
Nov 30 2025 – The Commission extends the SIR schedule for the 12 states/UTs launched on Oct 27 by an additional week, reflecting operational delays and the need for more time to complete enumeration and verification[2].
Dec 2025 (early) – Uttar Pradesh’s SIR timeline is pushed back by 15 days, a first extension that moves the draft roll deadline later in the month and underscores mounting pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs)[2].
Dec 30 2025 – The Election Commission again extends Uttar Pradesh’s SIR, shifting the draft electoral roll release to Jan 6 2026 and the final roll to Mar 6 2026; voters may file claims Jan 6–Feb 6, with the notice and disposal stage running until Feb 27, while officials cite heightened BLO stress and reported suicides as a factor in the extension[2].
Feb 19 2026 – The Election Commission sends a letter to chief electoral officers of 22 states and UTs ordering completion of all preparatory work for the April 2026 SIR, including 2002‑04 roll mapping and BLO training, and coordinates with the Registrar General to align staff deployment with the upcoming 2027 Census house‑listing exercise[1].
Apr 1 2027 – The first phase of the 2027 Population Census begins, deploying 30 lakh enumerators—many of whom also serve as BLOs—for house‑listing, a joint effort that will support the staggered rollout of SIR activities across the country[1].