For Prelims: Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Form-6, BLO (Booth Level Officer), Full form of SIR, Full form of ASDD, Nodal Body, Affected States, Current Context
For Mains: Electoral roll accuracy, disenfranchisement, judicial oversight of EC, SIR process, ASDD classification
Source:
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- The Election Commission gave a second chance to voters missed in the SIR process in 7 states.
- The 7 states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Nagaland.
- SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- ASDD stands for Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate voters.
- The Supreme Court questioned the Delhi SIR process on 29 October 2026.
Why in the news?
The Election Commission of India has given a second opportunity to voters in 7 states (Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Nagaland) who were missed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and classified as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate (ASDD). Affected voters can now get their names re-included through BLO visits or by filing claims during the objection period.
Summary
- EC allows voters in 7 states whose names were removed during SIR (ASDD category) to get re-enrolled through BLO visits or claim forms.
- This follows complaints that live voters were wrongly marked dead or absent, and comes after the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi SIR process on October 29.
- Voters who were never on the electoral roll are not eligible; this applies only to those previously listed but dropped during SIR.
Highlights
Second Chance for ASDD Voters
Voters classified as Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate during SIR in 7 states can get their names re-included via BLO visits or claim-objection forms.
Supreme Court Scrutiny Triggered Action
The EC acted after the Supreme Court questioned the haste in Delhi's SIR process on October 29, 2026, leading to an extension and now a second chance.
Form-6 Route for Re-inclusion
Voters whose names were dropped must file Form-6 even if they were on the roll for 10 years; the EC has removed the 2003 voter list declaration requirement.
Background
The Election Commission conducts Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to clean electoral rolls by removing ineligible voters (dead, shifted, duplicate). In the current SIR exercise across multiple states, lakhs of names were removed, leading to complaints that live voters were wrongly marked dead or absent. Similar complaints arose in Bihar earlier.
Key Analysis and Impact
The EC's decision addresses two key issues: (1) administrative errors in the SIR process where genuine voters were incorrectly classified, and (2) the need to maintain electoral roll accuracy without disenfranchising legitimate voters. The move covers 7 states including major political battlegrounds like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Haryana. The Supreme Court's intervention on October 29 forced the EC to extend deadlines and now offer a second chance.
Delhi connection
Matters for these Jharkhand exams:JPSC 7/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
- A focused, time-bound exercise by the Election Commission to revise and update electoral rolls in specific constituencies or states, often before elections.
- Form-6
- The official application form for inclusion of a name in the electoral roll for a new voter or for re-inclusion after deletion.
- BLO (Booth Level Officer)
- A government official (usually a school teacher or local government employee) responsible for maintaining and updating the electoral roll in a polling booth area.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 7 states: Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Nagaland
- Legal Point: Form-6 (for inclusion in electoral roll)
Don't make this mistake!
The ASDD category (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate) may be confused with general voter categories. Also, the second chance is only for those previously on the roll, not new voters. The SC questioned the SIR process, not the EC's authority to conduct it.
Write these in mains answers
- Electoral roll accuracy, disenfranchisement, judicial oversight of EC, SIR process, ASDD classification
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The Election Commission runs a special drive called SIR to clean up voter lists by removing people who have died, moved away, or are listed twice. But in 7 states, some genuine voters were wrongly removed. The EC has now given them a second chance to get their names back on the list by meeting the Booth Level Officer or filling Form-6.
- The Election Commission gave a second chance to voters missed in the SIR process in 7 states.
- The 7 states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Nagaland.
- SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- ASDD stands for Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate voters.
- The Supreme Court questioned the Delhi SIR process on 29 October 2026.
- Polity: Election Commission and Electoral Reforms
- Governance: Electoral Roll Management
Related concepts: Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Form-6, BLO (Booth Level Officer)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which body is responsible for conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
Explanation: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the constitutional body responsible for conducting SIR and maintaining electoral rolls. The Ministry of Law advises the government, State Election Commissions handle local body elections, and the Supreme Court only intervenes on legal questions, not the SIR process itself.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission's decision:
- 1.The second chance is available to voters in 7 states including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- 2.The decision applies only to voters who were previously on the electoral roll but were classified as ASDD during SIR.
- 3.Voters can get their names re-included by filing Form-6.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because the 7 states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Nagaland — not Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. Statement 2 is correct as the second chance is only for those already on the roll. Statement 3 is correct because Form-6 is the prescribed form for re-inclusion.
- Q3Medium
How many states were covered by the Election Commission's decision to give a second chance to voters missed in the SIR process?
Explanation: The EC decision applies to 7 states: Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Nagaland.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of the Election Commission's decision to give a second chance to ASDD-categorized voters?
Explanation: The decision aims to fix errors where live voters were wrongly marked dead or absent during SIR, ensuring they are not disenfranchised. While it may boost turnout, that is a side effect, not the primary objective. BLO workload is not reduced, and the SC directive was about the process timeline, not the roll format.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the SIR process in voter list revision?
SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision, a focused exercise by the Election Commission to clean electoral rolls by removing ineligible voters such as those who are dead, shifted, or duplicate.
2. Which states are affected by the EC's second chance decision?
The decision applies to 7 states: Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Nagaland.
3. How can a voter whose name was dropped during SIR get re-included?
The voter can get re-included either through a visit by the Booth Level Officer (BLO) or by filing a claim using Form-6 during the objection period.
All sources
- Original6 November 2026 · Read story
