Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced that the Bihar electoral rolls have undergone a major purification exercise under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This is the first such comprehensive cleansing in 22 years, aimed at ensuring that the voter lists include only eligible Indian citizens. The revision was undertaken just before the upcoming state elections to eliminate duplication, fake entries, and the inclusion of non-citizens.

Foreigners and Invalid Entries Removed

The CEC revealed that the list of deleted electors in Bihar includes foreigners, deceased persons, and those who have permanently shifted from their constituencies. While he did not specify the exact number of foreign nationals removed, he stated that the figures for the 3.66 lakh deleted voters have been shared with recognized political parties at the district level for greater transparency.
He clarified that any person or political party can raise objections to the deletions up to 10 days before the filing of nominations. This process reflects the Election Commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability in electoral management.

Aadhaar Card and Proof of Eligibility

Addressing the use of Aadhaar for voter identification, the CEC explained that during the SIR, the Election Commission will continue to accept Aadhaar as the 12th identification document. However, since Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, age, or address—as per both the Aadhaar Act and the Supreme Court’s ruling (September 8, 2025)—voters must submit an additional document to establish their eligibility for inclusion in the electoral roll.
The Court emphasized that Aadhaar can verify a person’s identity but cannot establish citizenship, which is a prerequisite for voter eligibility. Consequently, the EC has issued instructions to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure compliance with the Court’s directive.

Significance of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The SIR has been described as a landmark exercise in electoral purification. According to CEC Kumar, the process was essential before the upcoming elections as the Representation of the People Act requires the “cleansing” of rolls before every poll. The updated list now contains 7.42 crore verified voters.
He remarked that the Bihar model would serve as a template for similar exercises nationwide, saying, “Just as the Vaishali republic guided democracy, Bihar’s SIR will guide the rest of the country.” This underlines Bihar’s historical and symbolic role in democratic governance.

Key Electoral Reforms and Administrative Measures

The Election Commission also announced a series of new election reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency:

• Webcasting from all polling booths (earlier only 50–60% had this facility).
• Capping of 1,200 voters per booth for better crowd management and accessibility.
• Postal ballots will be fully counted before the conclusion of two rounds of EVM counting.
• Mobile phones will be kept outside polling booths to maintain secrecy.
• Booth Level Agents (BLAs) will be stationed 100 yards away from polling stations.
• Revenue service officers will be assigned to monitor candidates’ election expenditure to prevent financial malpractice.

These measures are expected to make elections more transparent, organized, and technologically advanced.

Concerns Over Sex Ratio and Voter Inclusion

The CEC addressed concerns regarding the decline in the sex ratio in the final voter roll. He explained that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) made extensive visits to ensure inclusivity, but women left out during the process can still apply for inclusion before the elections.
This assurance highlights the EC’s focus on gender inclusivity and the right to participate for every eligible citizen.

Addressing Criminalization in Politics

When questioned about the continued participation of candidates with criminal backgrounds, the CEC stated that the Election Commission operates within the framework of the Constitution and laws enacted by Parliament. The EC has limited powers in this area unless legislative changes are made.
However, the deployment of revenue officers for expense monitoring aims to improve accountability and reduce corrupt practices during elections.

Broader Implications and Significance

This entire exercise in Bihar signifies the Election Commission’s renewed emphasis on clean and transparent elections. The use of technology, administrative reforms, and coordination with political parties shows an evolving model of electoral governance in India.
For UPSC aspirants, this topic connects to GS Paper II (Polity & Governance) — covering the Election Commission’s powers, electoral reforms, citizen participation, and Supreme Court’s role in ensuring free and fair elections.

What’s the ongoing story: Even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings to the fishermen against venturing out to sea in view of the building up of Cyclone Shakhti, collectors of the coastal districts of Saurashtra who were attending a two-day national conference on land administration and disaster management in Gandhinagar, headed back to base by Saturday evening.

Key Takeaways:

• Meanwhile, Sunday leaves for Collectorate staff were ordered cancelled as the IMD issued warnings over the severe cyclonic storm Shakhti, currently situated more than 500 km off the coastline.
• All districts are keeping a close tab over the developing situation even as the predictions say Shakhti is likely to move out at sea without making landfall in Gujarat.
• According to the IMD’s national bulletin, issued on Saturday, “Shakhti moved west-southwest with a speed of 13 kmph during last six hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST of on October 4, 2025 over northwest Arabian Sea about 580 km west of Dwarka, 580 km west-southwest of Naliya, 510 km southwest of Karachi (Pakistan), 390 km east of Ras Al Hadd (Oman) and 490 km east-northeast of Masirah (Oman).”

Note:

• Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters near the equator. When the warm, moist air from the ocean surface rises upward, a lower air pressure area is formed below. Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure rushes into this low-pressure area, eventually rising, and it becomes warm and moist.
• As warm, moist air rises, it cools down, and the water in the air forms clouds and thunderstorms. This whole system of clouds and winds gains strength and momentum using the ocean’s heat, and the water that evaporates from its surface.
• “The weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions. If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour [63 kmph], the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Storm systems with wind speeds of 119 kmph and above are classified as hurricanes, typhoons, or tropical cyclones.
• The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by its sustained wind speed, as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is classified into five categories — Category 1 to Category 5. While Category 1 tropical cyclones bring winds of 119 to 153 kmph, Category 5 tropical cyclones, which are the strongest, have winds of 252 kmph or higher. Storms that reach Category 3 and higher are considered major tropical cyclones due to their potential to inflict significant damage.
• A tropical cyclone has a ‘clean’ side and a ‘dirty’ side. In the northern hemisphere, the right-hand side of the storm (relative to its motion) is called the ‘dirty’ side, and the left-hand side is known as the ‘clean’ side.
• The ‘dirty’ side can bring more devastation as the forward motion of the storm is added to the background rotating circulation of the system, which is always in an anti-clockwise direction. The location at which the two movements — rotation around the eye and forward motion — combine is where the most powerful winds are found.