Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar during June-July 2025. This large-scale exercise aimed to ensure that no eligible elector is left out of the voter list, while also removing ineligible names. The last such revision in Bihar was carried out in 2003.

Grassroots Participation and Objectives:

• Extensive Involvement: The SIR saw participation from Booth Level Officers (BLOs), BLO Supervisors, all election officials, Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties, and volunteers. This broad involvement ensured a grassroots approach to the revision process.
• Dual Objective: Launched on June 24, the SIR’s core objective was twofold:
  • To include the names of eligible citizens in the voter list.
  • To remove the names of ineligible individuals.

Documentation Requirements and Citizenship Proof:

Bihar has a total of 7.9 crore voters. For this revision:

• Approximately 5 crore voters who were part of the scrutinised list as of January 1, 2003, only need to submit an extract from that roll.
• The remaining 2.9 crore voters must produce at least one document from a specific list of 11 documents to prove their eligibility.
• Crucially, Aadhaar card, PAN, and driving license are NOT included in this list. The reason is that these documents do not serve as proof of Indian citizenship.
• Since voting in India is a right intrinsically linked to being an Indian citizen, individuals are required to provide documents that substantiate their citizenship.
• The 11 acceptable documents that will work to prove date and place of birth (and thus citizenship) include:
  • Government-issued identity card or pension payment order
  • Birth certificate
  • Passport
  • Matriculation certificate
  • Permanent residence certificate
  • Caste or forest right certificates