Page 26 - NIS English 16-31 Jan, 2026

COVER STORY
National Voters’ Day Special
I urge all eligible voters,
whether men or women, to
exercise their right to vote. I
request my young friends to
register themselves as voters
as soon as they attain 18
years of age.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Nearly 650 million voters exercised their franchise
in this election. The magnitude of this number can be
gauged from the fact that the total population of the
27 countries of the European Union is approximately
440 million. India is now moving towards a system of
‘one nation, one election’. In this regard, the Union
Cabinet has already approved the report of the ‘One
Nation, One Election’ committee, chaired by former
President of India Ram Nath Kovind, which was
approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2023.
Elections, a festival of democracy, have
become a source of pride for the nation. To
make it even more effective, the Election
Commission, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Education, is including electoral
literacy in the curriculum. This will prove
successful in making students aware of a
crucial civic duty, as young people are the
future custodians of Indian democracy.
The celebration of democracy has become a
source of national pride. To make it even more effec-
tive, the inclusion of electoral literacy in the school
curriculum by the Election Commission in collabo-
ration with the Ministry of Education will prove suc- of India, which is setting new benchmarks, is reflected
cessful in making students aware of this extremely in the fact that India’s Chief Election Commissioner,
important duty of citizenship, because young Indians
are the future custodians of democracy. Council of Member States of the International Institute
The growing credibility of the Election Commission
24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || January 16-31, 2026
SIR
SIR ensures accurate
information and reliability
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) aims
to ensure the accuracy, correctness,
and reliability of the electoral roll. SIR is
conducted when the Election Commission
feels that a thorough re-examination of the
electoral roll is necessary. In independent
India, SIR has been conducted eight times
between 1951 and 2004. Such a campaign
had not been undertaken for almost two
decades until it was launched in Bihar in
2025, following a clearly defined process,
fixed timeline, and phased approach.
Over the past two decades, the electoral roll
has undergone several changes. People have
changed their residences, names of individuals
have been registered in multiple places, names
of deceased persons have not been removed,
and names of ineligible persons have been
added. Questions have been raised several times
regarding the quality of the electoral roll, which
led to the need for SIR. Eligibility is strictly
checked under SIR according to Article 326 of
the Constitution. A voter must be an Indian
citizen, have completed 18 years of age, be an
ordinary resident of the concerned area, and
not be disqualified under any law.
The SIR campaign in the country was
launched on October 28, 2025, and is to be
completed by February 7, 2026. In the second
phase of SIR, the process is being carried out
in 12 states and union territories. This process
will result in a clean electoral roll and further
strengthen the foundation of free, fair, and
reliable elections in the country.
Under the first phase of the SIR campaign,
the process was completed in Bihar, where no
appeals were filed. The Election Commission
believes that this completes the statutory
Gyanesh Kumar, has assumed the chairmanship of the
for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International