SIR Phase III: enumeration begins in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur

Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls: what happened?

An electoral roll is the list of who can vote. Over time people move, die or turn eighteen, so the list goes stale. A Special Intensive Revision is a fresh house-to-house check so that every eligible citizen is on the roll and no ineligible person stays on it.

• BLOs visit each household with Enumeration Forms; electors may return the form through the BLO or online.
• Forms received by the ERO on or before 28 June 2026 go into the Draft Electoral Rolls for these four States.
• Anyone who misses that date can still apply through Form 6 with the Declaration Form in the claims and objections period.
• BLOs carry at least 30 blank Form 6 and blank Declaration Forms for new electors.
• BLAs of recognised parties may collect up to 50 Forms a day and hand them to the BLO before draft publication.

What is SIR Phase III?

• On 14 May 2026 the ECI ordered SIR in 16 States and 3 UTs, timed with common field machinery for Census house listing.
• With Phase III, SIR will cover the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh; their schedule will come after Census Phase-II and with regard to snow-bound weather.
• In the first two phases, in 13 States/UTs covering nearly 59 crore electors, over 6.3 lakh BLOs and 9.2 lakh BLAs took part.

How many electors are in the first four States?

Which Article and law govern electoral rolls?

• Article 324(1): the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President are vested in the Election Commission.
• Article 326: elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.
• Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals with preparation and revision of electoral rolls; the ECI cited it with Article 324 for this SIR order.

What is the Phase III schedule for the first four States?

Why does Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls matter?

What are the challenges in Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls?

• Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are still outside the announced Phase III calendar.
• Electors who miss the 28 June form deadline must rely on Form 6 in the claims window.
• House-to-house coverage depends on enough BLOs and BLAs in every booth.

What should be done next on Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls?

• Complete enumeration in the first four States by 28 June 2026.
• Keep appointing BLAs so every booth has party participation.
• Announce the remaining three State/UT schedules after Census Phase-II.

What can Prelims ask on Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls?

• SIR Phase III ordered 14 May 2026 under Article 324 and Section 21, RP Act, 1950.
• Enumeration began 30 May 2026 in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur.
• Phase III: 16 States + 3 UTs; about 36.73 crore electors; over 3.94 lakh BLOs.
• Excluded for now: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh.
• Adult suffrage: Article 326.

How to write about Special Intensive Revision Phase III of electoral rolls in Mains

Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls must balance accuracy with inclusion. Discuss with reference to SIR Phase III.

• Intro: SIR Phase III order and first four States.
• Legal frame: Article 324, 326; Section 21 RP Act.
• Process: BLO visits, Form 6, BLA role.
• Coverage and exclusions.
• Challenges and way forward.