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What is the SIR process 2025?

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR process 2025) is a major exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to comprehensively update and “clean” the electoral rolls. Unlike routine annual updates, SIR is door-to-door, time-bound and covers every registered elector in the relevant geographical area.

Key features:

• Under Rule 25(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 (under the Representation of the People Act, 1950), when a revision is undertaken “intensively”, the same procedures apply as for the first preparation of the electoral roll.
• The SIR process aims to:
  1. Include all eligible voters (citizens aged 18+ residing ordinarily).
  2. Remove ineligible entries — dead persons, persons who have permanently shifted residence, duplicate registrations, and non-citizens.
• House-to-house verification is central: the BLO (Booth Level Officer) visits each household to verify forms, documents and elector details.

In effect, this is not just an update, but a reset and verification of the voter list for the constituency/region, to ensure accuracy, transparency and inclusion of only valid electors.

Why now? Why is it needed?

Several factors make such a rigorous SIR process 2025 revision necessary:

• With rapid migration (between states and rural→urban), many voters may have shifted and remained registered at their old address, or may have multiple registrations.
• Some entries may be of deceased persons or persons no longer ordinarily resident in a constituency.
• Ensuring only genuine citizens vote (cf. Section 16 of the RPA) is a constitutional obligation under Article 326 and superintendence under Article 324 of the Constitution.
• For example, in Bihar—where SIR was already underway—over 65 lakh names were reported to have been deleted from the rolls due to the SIR process 2025.
• The ECI has informed that for states like West Bengal, the preparations are complete and SIR process 2025 is on the horizon.

Thus, the SIR process 2025 is about both removing ineligible names and ensuring eligible citizens are not left out—making the voter list clean, credible and accurate.

What’s happening in West Bengal

According to reports:

• The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer has told the ECI that the state is ready for SIR process 2025: all district-level activities are compiled and submitted.
• As of August 2025, the ECI has asked states to ensure no polling booth has more than ~1,200 voters, and West Bengal’s number of booths has been increased from ~80,680 to over ~94,000.
• Media reports suggest that for Bengal, the SIR process 2025 may begin by mid-November 2025 and could run for ~100 days up to ~February 2026.

In West Bengal, this means you will likely receive communications from your local BLO or electoral office to fill a “pariganana form” (enumeration form) and submit required documents. It is important to act early.

What you, the voter, must do — Step by step

Based on the official guidelines and the local context (West Bengal, and as summarised), here’s what you should prepare and do:

1. Get your documents ready

• Take 2 recent colour passport-size photographs with a white background.
• You will need to attach at least one or more valid supporting document (as per the guidelines) when you fill out the enumeration form.
• There is a list of 11 valid document types (from your summary):
  1. Identity card/pension card issued to central/state/PSU regular employees
  2. Certificate/document/identity-card issued before 01/07/1987 by government/bank/LIC/post office/PSU/local authority
  3. Birth certificate
  4. Passport
  5. Permanent residence certificate
  6. 10th standard board mark-sheet with certificate
  7. Forest Rights (Van Adhikar) certificate
  8. OBC/SC/ST or other caste certificate
  9. National Citizen Register (where applicable)
  10. Family register prepared by the state/local authority
  11. Land/home allocation certificate issued by the government

From these, you must prepare at least two documents to avoid complications when submitting your enumeration form.

2. Understand which category you fall into

The registration requirements vary according to your date of birth (as per the guidelines you provided):

• If your date of birth (DOB) is on or before 01/07/1987 → You need at least one valid document (yourself).
• If your DOB is between 01/07/1987 and 02/12/2004 → You need one document of your own and one document of your parent (so a total of at least 2 documents).
• If your DOB is after 02/12/2004 → You need three documents: one of your own, one of your mother and one of your father (so a total of at least 3 documents).

Make sure you know which category applies to you and prepare accordingly.

3. Fill and submit the enumeration form (Parigāṇanā Form)

• Your local BLO will provide you with the enumeration form for your household.
• The form will need to be filled out (by you or with assistance) and submitted to the BLO within the specified timeframe.
• Along with the form, you attach the required document(s) and your photographs.
• Submit it timely — do not wait till the last day.

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4. Check your details in the draft list and respond

• Once the draft electoral roll is published (following submission of forms), check your name, address, details and EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) number (if any).
• If there are errors (name misspelt, address wrong, DOB wrong) or if you find you are omitted, file a ‘claim or objection’ as per the procedure.
• Stay alert: If you fail to submit the form during the SIR process 2025, your name may not appear in the new roll. (That risks disenfranchisement.)

5. Follow-up and keep proof

• Keep photocopies of all documents and submit the receipt (if any) during form submission.
• Keep track of your submission and verification to ensure you are included in the final list.
• Inform family members and neighbours (especially first-time voters, senior citizens, and people who have shifted residence) to also act.

What happens if you do not act?

• If you do not submit the enumeration form (or fail to provide the required documents) in your area during SIR process 2025, your name may get dropped from the voter list. That means you may not be able to vote in upcoming elections.
• Because the SIR process 2025 treats the roll as being prepared fresh, non-submission may lead to exclusion.
• It is therefore important not only for you, but for all eligible citizens—particularly migrants, young first-time voters, and those who have moved residence—to participate so they are not left out.

Key things to remember & tips

• Start early: Don’t wait for the final notification — SIR process 2025 window will be limited and deadlines strict.
• Keep your documents organised & ready: photographs + documents + address proof.
• If you have shifted residence permanently (within the state or from another state), inform the BLO and check that your old registration is removed (to prevent duplication) and your new address registration is included.
• If you or a family member turned 18 recently, check the inclusion deadlines (first-time voters).
• In West Bengal, your local Booth Level Officer (BLO) is the first point of contact — keep track of the booth number, contact details, and form submission.
• After submission, check the draft roll when published and raise any objections early.
• If you see any irregularities (omission despite submission, or duplicates), you may approach the electoral office or raise a grievance — transparency is required by the ECI.

Why this matters for democracy

A clean and accurate electoral roll is the foundation of free and fair elections. When only genuinely eligible citizens are on the list, and duplicate/ineligible names are removed, it strengthens the integrity of the electoral process.

For you as a voter in West Bengal, participation in the SIR process 2025 ensures your citizen-right to vote is protected, and your voice will count in future elections. Conversely, non-participation may risk exclusion.

In summary

• The SIR process 2025 is a comprehensive, time-bound verification of voter lists across states.
• Its aim: remove dead/shifted/duplicate/ineligible voters and include all eligible citizens.
• If you live in West Bengal, expect your local BLO to approach you with the enumeration form soon (if not already).
• You must supply: photographs + required documents (see list) and fill out the form timely.
• Submit the form and check that your name appears in the new roll.
• Spread the word among your family, friends and neighbours: “Your vote is your right — be an aware voter.”

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