The Indus Zone Tech Desk | West Bengal, Kolkata, October 27, 2025 – After completing the voter list revision process in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is now preparing to start the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal from November 1.
According to sources, all District Election Officers (DEOs) and District Magistrates have been instructed to be on alert as the process could begin anytime. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has already directed officials to ensure that all pending preparations are completed without delay.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The SIR is a large-scale verification process carried out by the Election Commission to update, verify, and clean the voter list before major elections. It helps remove duplicate entries, names of deceased individuals, and ineligible voters, while ensuring that new and eligible voters are added.
The exercise ensures that every eligible citizen is included in the electoral roll and that the list remains transparent and accurate.
24×7 Election Office and Help Desks
Following a meeting with the ECI, the CEO’s office in West Bengal will now operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the revision period. All personnel connected to SIR work must remain available to handle voter-related queries and verification tasks.
In addition, each district will soon have a dedicated help desk for SIR-related issues. These desks will help citizens check their voter details, make corrections, and get assistance with registration.
Multi-Party Meetings and Coordination
Once the official SIR announcement is made, multi-party meetings will be conducted at both state and district levels. The CEO will chair the state-level meeting, while District Magistrates will oversee district-level discussions.
These meetings will focus on transparency, voter inclusion, and coordination among political parties. The decisions and discussions from these meetings will be submitted to the Election Commission for review.
Nationwide SIR Plan
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar earlier confirmed that the ECI plans to carry out the Special Intensive Revision exercise across all states and Union Territories. He said the Commission aims to ensure voter list accuracy before upcoming elections across the country.
“The Election Commission has already taken a decision to conduct a pan-India SIR. It’s a work in progress, and official dates will be announced soon,” Kumar stated earlier this month.
Lessons from Bihar’s SIR Drive
The SIR exercise in Bihar served as a model for the upcoming nationwide revision. During the process, nearly 69 lakh names were removed from the voter list due to deaths, duplicate entries, or fake voter IDs.
After the clean-up, the total number of registered voters in Bihar stood at 7.43 crore. Though the exercise faced criticism from opposition parties, the Election Commission defended the move, emphasizing that it was aimed at “purifying the electoral rolls” and strengthening democracy.
Why It Matters
With the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and multiple state assembly polls on the horizon, this revision will play a crucial role in ensuring free, fair, and accurate elections. For voters in West Bengal, it’s a reminder to check their details online or visit local election offices to verify their names in the electoral roll.
Takeaways for Voters:
SIR to begin in West Bengal from November 1, 2025
24×7 help desks to assist citizens during the revision drive
Multi-party meetings to ensure transparency
Model followed from successful Bihar SIR
Citizens urged to verify or update their voter information
