Election Commission Extends SIR Deadline to December 11

Delhi: The Election Commission of India has granted an additional week for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across nine states and three Union Territories. Announcing the extension on Sunday, the poll body said that enumeration form distribution — originally scheduled to conclude on December 4 — will now continue until December 11.

As per the revised timeline, the draft electoral rolls will be published on December 16, while the final voters’ list will be issued on February 14 next year. The nationwide SIR exercise, covering 12 states, was first launched on October 27 as part of the Commission’s efforts to update voter records ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

However, the extension has reignited political tensions, with the Congress questioning the government’s approach to the process. Expressing dissatisfaction, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari said, “Opposition parties feel that if no discussion is held on the SIR, it means the government does not want Parliament to function.” He further targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the PM had not fulfilled his responsibility by avoiding participation in parliamentary deliberations.

The Opposition has been demanding a structured debate on the SIR exercise, arguing that transparency and adequate scrutiny are essential for maintaining the integrity of the electoral rolls. With the Winter Session already facing friction on multiple issues, the extension of the SIR deadline is expected to fuel further political debate in the days ahead.