SIR hearings begin in Bengal, 32 lakh 'unmapped' voters to be covered
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Elections, ECI & electoral reforms· Prelims·
Why in news
The Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings in West Bengal to include approximately 32 lakh 'unmapped' voters in the electoral rolls.
Background
The ECI began SIR hearings on December 27, 2025, across 3,234 centers in West Bengal. The process aims to register voters who lack a linkage to the 2002 electoral roll, overseen by over 4,500 micro-observers.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyThe Election Commission of India (ECI) is the body responsible for electoral roll revisions.
- FactApproximately 32 lakh voters in West Bengal are identified as 'unmapped' for the SIR hearings.
- FactAadhaar can be used as a proof of identity and address but cannot be used as a standalone document for voter registration.
- FactThe SIR process involves 3,234 centers and over 4,500 micro-observers.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the significance of periodic electoral roll revisions in ensuring the integrity of the democratic process and the challenges in identifying 'unmapped' voters.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Data integrity: Ensuring accurate voter identification while preventing fraudulent entries through multi-document verification
- Logistical hurdles: Managing large-scale micro-observation and decentralized hearing centers in high-density states
- Inclusivity: Bridging the gap for marginalized voters who lack historical linkage to previous electoral rolls
Keywords: Electoral Roll · Special Intensive Revision · Voter Identification · Democratic Integrity · Micro-observers
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