SIR Deadline Extended in Six States Including Uttar Pradesh; New Schedule Released
New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced a major decision to extend the deadline for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in six states and one Union Territory. The revised schedule applies to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The extension was approved after respective Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) sought more time.
🔹 Revised Deadlines for Different States
As per the updated schedule released by the Election Commission:
Tamil Nadu and Gujarat
New Deadline: 19 December 2025 (Friday)
Earlier Deadline: 14 December 2025 (Sunday)
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
New Deadline: 23 December 2025 (Tuesday)
Earlier Deadline: 18 December 2025 (Thursday)
Uttar Pradesh
New Deadline: 31 December 2025 (Wednesday)
Earlier Deadline: 26 December 2025 (Friday)
🔹 Second Phase of the SIR Process Underway
The Election Commission is currently conducting the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories.
The first phase of SIR was completed in September 2025 ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
States covered in the second phase include:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are scheduled to go to polls in 2026.
Assam is also headed for elections in 2026, where a separate “special revision” of the electoral roll has been initiated.
🔹 Why SIR Is Important
The last full-scale SIR in most states was conducted between 2002 and 2004.
The ongoing SIR aims to update the voter lists accurately and, importantly, identify illegal foreign migrants by verifying the place of birth.
This exercise gains significance amid recent actions against illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar in several states.
🔹 Conclusion
The extension of the SIR deadlines highlights the Election Commission’s commitment to ensuring that electoral rolls remain accurate, transparent, and up to date. With several key elections lined up for 2026, the revised schedule will help strengthen the electoral process and improve administrative preparedness.
