Election Commission: All SIR Rollout Decisions Were Unanimous – 27 September 2026

What happened

The Election Commission of India stated that decisions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were taken unanimously by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The clarification followed media reports suggesting differences within the Commission. The EC also said meeting agendas will be circulated in advance and minutes issued.

Background

SIR is a drive to revise electoral rolls intensively across States and Union Territories. The order for nationwide SIR (starting with Bihar, then West Bengal and others) was issued earlier; the Commission said that order too had unanimous approval. By late September 2026, SIR had been implemented in 20 States/UTs and was under way in 12 others, per EC statements reported in the press.

Why it matters for exams

ECI composition, electoral roll revision and related controversies are important for Polity papers and competitive-exam GA.

Key facts for exams

• Body: Election Commission of India (constitutional body under Article 324)
• CEC: Gyanesh Kumar
• ECs named in statement: S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
• Process: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
• Process note: agendas for meetings to be circulated in advance; APARs of officers to be completed by 31 December each year (as reported)

Practice MCQs

1. Electoral roll revision processes of the ECI draw authority primarily from which constitutional article for the Commission?

   (A) Article 280
   (B) Article 324
   (C) Article 356
   (D) Article 370

   Answer: (B) – Article 324 deals with the Election Commission.

2. What does SIR stand for in the September 2026 Election Commission statement?

   (A) State Inventory Review
   (B) Special Intensive Revision
   (C) Systematic Internal Reform
   (D) Statutory Identity Registration

   Answer: (B) – Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

3. Who was Chief Election Commissioner when the EC clarified that SIR decisions were unanimous in September 2026?

   (A) Rajiv Kumar
   (B) Gyanesh Kumar
   (C) Sushil Chandra
   (D) Nasim Zaidi

   Answer: (B) – CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Source: Times of India / India Today reports on EC statement, 26–27 September 2026.