Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state will be carried out in a “very extensive and proper manner” after the upcoming Assembly elections. He asserted that the exercise would be more comprehensive than the revision process currently underway. Speaking to reporters Sarma said that while a Special Revision (SR) of the electoral rolls is presently being conducted in Assam, a full-scale SIR will follow later. “Here, the SIR will be very extensive and properly done. I had requested the Election Commission to conduct the SIR even now, but they opted for an SR due to the non-publication of the NRC. We welcome the SIR,” the Chief Minister said.
Sarma’s remarks come amid the unresolved status of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
The final NRC, published on August 31, 2019, excluded 19,06,657 people, while 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. However, the NRC has not yet been officially notified by the Registrar General of India. According to Sarma, this factor influenced the Election Commission’s decision to conduct an SR instead of an SIR at this stage. Official figures show that the draft electoral roll prepared after the ongoing Special Revision lists a total of 2,52,01,624 electors — a 1.35 per cent increase over the previous final roll published in January 2025.
Between January 6 and December 27 last year, the rolls recorded 7,86,841 additions and 4,47,196 deletions. During the revision process, officials identified 4,78,992 deceased electors, 5,23,680 voters who had shifted their residence, and 53,619 cases of multiple entries. The Election Commission has clarified that these names have not yet been removed. Deletions or corrections will be made only after formal applications are received during the ongoing claims and objections period. The final electoral roll for Assam is scheduled to be published on February 10, 2026.
