65 lakh names missing from Bihar draft roll as Election Commission faces scrutiny
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Elections, ECI & electoral reforms· Prelims + Mains·
Electoral roll maintenance and grievance redressal: a GS2 topic on inclusive democracy and administrative transparency.
Why in news
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing scrutiny over the exclusion of 65 lakh names from the August 2025 Bihar draft roll and technical hurdles in the appeals process in West Bengal.
Background
In Bihar, 65 lakh names were missing from the August 2025 draft roll due to reasons like deaths, migration, and duplicate entries. In West Bengal, 27 lakh names were deleted during adjudication, leading to 22 lakh appeals.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyElection Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for the mass revision of electoral rolls.
- FactIn Bihar, 65 lakh names were missing from the August 2025 draft roll.
- FactIn West Bengal, 27 lakh names were deleted and 22 lakh appeals were filed.
- FactIn Aland, Karnataka, only 24 of 6,018 deletion applications were accepted.
- FactMaharashtra's 2024 turnout rose from 58.22% to 66.05%.
Prelims practice question
Which body is responsible for the mass revision of electoral rolls in India?
- (a)State Election Commission
- (b)National Election Authority
- (c)Election Commission of India
- (d)Ministry of Home Affairs
Show answer
Answer: (c) Election Commission of India — The Election Commission of India is the body responsible for the mass revision of electoral rolls.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the importance of transparency and grievance redressal mechanisms in the maintenance of electoral rolls to ensure inclusive democratic participation.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Transparency gap: Need for public disclosure of reasons for exclusion to allow for verifiable challenges.
- Technological bottlenecks: Issues with appeals portals hindering the timely restoration of wrongfully deleted names.
- Historical inclusivity: Ensuring registration of women in their own right to prevent systemic disenfranchisement.
Keywords: Electoral Roll · Disenfranchisement · Transparency · Grievance Redressal · Inclusive Democracy · Special Intensive Revision
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