Congress Criticises EC Over SIR Process
On 13 July 2026, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Election Commission of India (EC) of creating "chaos and absolute mayhem" while carrying out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Key Developments
- Ramesh shared an article by former UIDAI chief R.S. Sharma, calling the piece "powerful and courageous".
- He claimed the EC’s handling of SIR is a "failure of the state" and likened it to an "arm of the BJP".
- The Congress alleged that SIR is part of a "Modi‑Shah strategy" to manipulate rolls and manufacture a majority.
- The EC maintains that SIR aims only to delete dead, duplicate, shifted, absent voters and foreign nationals.
Important Facts
The latest round of SIR requires new voters to submit their parents' SIR details for inclusion in the rolls. This additional step has sparked criticism that the process is being used to question citizenship, a point highlighted by Sharma’s article. The EC has not altered the core objective of SIR but has faced backlash over the speed and coordination of the exercise.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the dynamics of electoral roll revision is essential for GS2: Polity. Candidates should note how political parties use administrative actions to further electoral strategies, a recurring theme in UPSC essay and answer‑writing. The controversy also touches upon citizenship verification, which may be examined in questions on fundamental rights and electoral reforms.
Way Forward
For a balanced electoral system, the EC could consider:
- Transparent timelines and clear communication to voters about required documents.
- Independent oversight, possibly through a parliamentary committee, to address allegations of partisan bias.
- Stakeholder consultations with political parties, civil society, and election officials before launching large‑scale revisions.
Such steps would help restore publ