Third Phase SIR Draft Rolls Reveal 6.15 Crore Deletions Across 16 States, 3 UTs Draft electoral rolls under SIR third phase show 17.04% names removed, with Delhi and Maharashtra topping lists. Polity · 12 Sep 2026 · GS: GS2, Essay · Exam yield: High WHY THIS MATTERS The deletion of 6.15 crore names in SIR phase-3 strikes at electoral integrity, a core GS2 polity theme. For UPSC, it tests ECI powers, Article 324, and judicial review. IN PLAIN WORDS Every democracy needs an accurate list of who can vote; in India that list is the electoral roll, maintained by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI is currently running the third phase of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR)—a deep house-to-house cleanup of the roll across 16 States and 3 Union Territories, unlike the usual yearly summary updates that only add new voters. The exercise compared the old roll of 36.08 crore names with fresh door-to-door enumeration forms. The draft result: 29.93 crore names retained, 6.15 crore (17.04%) deleted. Delhi recorded the highest share removed at 32.78%, Maharashtra the biggest absolute loss at 2.06 crore. Most deletions are tagged 'absent', 'permanently shifted', 'dead' or 'duplicate'—think of a school striking absentees off its attendance register after teachers visit their homes. Crucially, the draft is provisional. A claims and objections window lets citizens demand restoration; for Delhi the deadline is September 30, 2026, while final rolls begin publishing from September 6 starting with Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. The Supreme Court in March 2026 unanimously upheld the SIR's constitutional validity under Article 324. The real test is whether final rolls exclude ghosts without disenfranchising real people, especially migrants marked 'absent'. KEY FACTS • Third phase covered 16 States and 3 UTs; draft rolls out except Nagaland (Sep 20) and Tripura (Oct 21). • Of 36.08 crore total names, 29.93 crore retained, 6.15 crore (17.04%) deleted in draft lists. • Delhi highest deletion percentage at 32.78%; Maharashtra most absolute deletions at 2.06 crore. • Final rolls begin publishing from Sep 6; claims/objections window still open. • Supreme Court unanimously upheld SIR constitutional validity in March 2026. HOW WE GOT HERE The electoral roll is prepared by the ECI under the constitutional mandate of Article 324 and the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Normally, the ECI conducts an annual revision to add new voters. A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a rarer, deeper exercise done when rolls are suspected inaccurate. Earlier SIR rounds covered Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and others before 2026. In the third phase launched in 2026, the ECI targeted 16 States and 3 UTs. Draft rolls from August 2026 showed massive deletions. Opposition challenged it, but in March 2026 the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the SIR's constitutional validity, clearing the legal cloud. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar oversees the exercise. THE BIGGER PICTURE Constitutional — ECI's plenary power and judicial endorsement Article 324 vests the superintendence of elections in the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Representation of the People Act, 1950 empowers preparation of electoral rolls. In March 2026, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutional validity of SIR, rejecting challenges. This affirms deep revision is within ECI's mandate, but the Court's silence on deletion scale leaves implementation scrutiny to Parliament. The judgment reinforces that electoral roll purity is a constitutional goal. → SIR upheld under Article 324; ECI powers are broad but answerable. Political — Federal friction and partisan trust The scale of deletions sparked acrimony between Opposition parties and the ECI. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar protesting 'massive and unjustified' deletions and seeking extension of the claims window. Maharashtra's 2.06 crore deletions became a flashpoint. The episode reveals tension between a central constitutional body and state governments over electoral management. Such friction tests cooperative federalism in election administration. → State CMs allege excess; ECI asserts statutory duty. Social — Inclusion risk for mobile citizens Of 6.15 crore deleted, only 1.11 crore were marked dead; 4.52 crore were tagged 'absent' and the rest duplicate or other. Delhi's 32.78% deletion and Maharashtra's Thane district at 38% show urban migrants are vulnerable. Without robust claims drives, genuine voters—especially poor, shifting laborers—may lose franchise. The ECI's objection window is the sole safety net. → Absent-tagging threatens marginalised mobile voters. Ethical — Proportionality and due process Mass deletion of 17.04% of names raises ethical questions of fairness. Principles of natural justice require individual notice before striking off a voter. While the ECI provides a post-draft claims period, proactive communication is weak; 67.22% enumeration form return in Delhi shows gaps. Ethical administration demands testing accuracy before publishing draft, not after. → Due process must precede, not just follow, deletion. THE BIG DEBATE Does the SIR's mass deletion strengthen electoral integrity or undermine universal franchise? For: • Removes dead, duplicate and shifted entries, making rolls accurate (The Hindu 2026). • Court-approved under Article 324; claims window protects aggrieved citizens. Against: • 17.04% deletion risks disenfranchising marginalised if enumeration is incomplete. • 4.52 crore 'absent' tags lack individual notice, violating natural justice. The balanced take: SIR is legally valid and necessary for clean electoral rolls, but the unprecedented scale demands robust grievance redress; final lists must prioritise inclusion through proactive re-enrolment drives, ensuring no genuine citizen is silently excluded. ANSWER IT IN MAINS Examine the role of the Election Commission of India in maintaining electoral integrity with reference to Special Intensive Revision. (GS2) How to attack it: Intro SIR context → Art 324 mandate → deletion data → federal/legal debate → balanced conclusion. Quote this: Supreme Court March 2026 unanimous upholding SIR; The Hindu data 6.15 cr deletions. Discuss the implications of large-scale voter list deletions for democratic participation in India. (GS2) How to attack it: Intro 17% deletion → social exclusion → political rights → ECI remedial measures → way forward. Quote this: ECI claims/objections window; Karnataka CM letter to CEC (The Hindu 2026). PRELIMS QUICK-FIRE • [Data] SIR phase-3 draft deleted 6.15 crore (17.04%) of 36.08 crore names (The Hindu 2026). — Delhi % highest, Maharashtra absolute highest. • [Constitution] Supreme Court March 2026 unanimously upheld constitutional validity of SIR (The Hindu). — Not a split verdict; under Article 324. • [Data] Maharashtra draft retained 7.71 cr of 9.78 cr; deleted 2.06 cr (The Hindu 2026). — Thane district had 38% deletions. • [Data] Delhi deletions at 32.78%; 47.56 lakh names removed (The Hindu 2026). — Only 67.22% enumeration forms returned. • [Geography] Phase-3 covers 16 States, 3 UTs; Nagaland, Tripura drafts pending (The Hindu). — Dadra & Daman count as one UT. • [Data] Of deleted, 1.11 cr dead, 4.52 cr absent, rest multiple/others (The Hindu). — Only ~18% deletions are deaths. • [Body/Institution] Final rolls start Sep 6 2026; Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur first (The Hindu). — Claims window open till Sep 30 Delhi. WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN 1. Extend claims and objections window beyond Sep 30 in all states Ensures no genuine voter excluded due to incomplete enumeration. (Letters of Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar to CEC (The Hindu 2026)) 2. Launch public awareness campaign for missing voters to re-register Maharashtra CEO noted ~1.5 crore could re-enrol after excluding dead/duplicate. (Maharashtra CEO S Chokkalingam statement (ETV Bharat 2026)) 3. Issue individual notice before marking 'absent' in future SIR Prevents arbitrary deletion and upholds natural justice. 4. Publish district-wise deletion reasons in accessible format Transparency builds trust and aids corrective claims. (The Hindu data on Maharashtra districts 2026) JARGON, DEMYSTIFIED • SIR (Special Intensive Revision) — Deep house-to-house verification of the electoral roll by ECI to add or delete names, beyond annual revision. (Distinct from Summary Revision.) • ECI (Election Commission of India) — Constitutional body under Article 324 responsible for conducting free elections and preparing accurate electoral rolls in India. (CEC appointed by President.) • Electoral Roll — Official list of eligible voters in a constituency; the legal basis for polling and franchise, published in draft and final. (Draft and final versions published.) • Claims and Objections — Window where citizens can challenge deletions or additions in draft roll before finalisation by ECI, safeguarding voter rights. (Key due process safeguard.) • Article 324 — Constitutional provision vesting superintendence, direction and control of elections in the ECI, subject to law, interpreted broadly. (Broad powers interpreted by SC.) • CEC (Chief Election Commissioner) — Head of the ECI; in 2026 Gyanesh Kumar, with security of tenure like SC judge, appointed by President. (Oversees SIR process.) REVISE IN 30 SECONDS • 6.15 cr names deleted in SIR phase-3 draft rolls. • Delhi 32.78% highest deletion; Maharashtra 2.06 cr absolute. • SC upheld SIR validity March 2026 under Art 324. • Final rolls from Sep 6; claims window open. • Only 1.11 cr of deleted marked dead. • 16 States, 3 UTs covered in phase-3. STUDY NEXT Static links: Constitution—Article 324, Election Commission—powers, Polity—Electoral Reforms Essay angle: Clean rolls vs inclusive franchise: the SIR dilemma. Interview probe: How would you balance accuracy and inclusion in voter lists as an administrator? SOURCES • Draft voter lists see over 6 crore deletions so far in SIR third phase - The Hindu — https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/draft-voter-lists-see-over-6-crore-deletions-so-far-in-sir-third-phase/article71411677.ece Source: Third Phase SIR Draft Rolls Reveal 6.15 Crore Deletions Across 16 States, 3 UTs — https://upsc.cortexdesk.in/current-affairs/kd7c6df480w2qjj7yf4pgcybx18e9dz1
