ECI orders SIR Phase III of electoral rolls in 16 States and 3 UTs covering 36.73 crore electors
On 14 May 2026 the Election Commission of India ordered Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 States and 3 UTs, covering 36.73 crore electors; only Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh remain.
Summary
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 14 May 2026 ordered Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 States and 3 Union Territories, timed with the field machinery of the ongoing Census house listing. Over 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers will visit 36.73 crore electors, assisted by 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents of political parties, and SIR will then cover the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, whose schedule will come later. Enumeration starts on 30 May 2026 in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur and ends with Tripura from 15 September. The ECI ordered the revision under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950; the first two phases covered nearly 59 crore electors in 13 States/UTs.
Key facts
- Order
- 14 May 2026, ECI; SIR Phase III in 16 States + 3 UTs
- Scale
- 36.73 crore electors; 3.94 lakh BLOs; 3.42 lakh BLAs
- Left out
- Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh (schedule later)
- Enumeration
- From 30 May (Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur) to 15 Sep (Tripura)
- Legal basis
- Article 324; Section 21, Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Phases I–II
- 13 States/UTs, nearly 59 crore electors
Practice MCQs 3 questions
SIR Phase III of electoral rolls, ordered by the ECI on 14 May 2026, covers about how many electors?
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Correct answer: B — 36.73 crore
Over 3.94 lakh BLOs will go house to house to 36.73 crore electors in SIR Phase III.
Which of the following is NOT covered in SIR Phase III announced by the ECI in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Himachal Pradesh
Phase III covers the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, whose schedule will be announced later.
Consider the following statements about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Phase III (2026): 1. The ECI ordered it under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 2. Enumeration begins first, on 30 May 2026, in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The ECI order cites Article 324 and Section 21 of the RP Act, 1950, and the house-to-house enumeration starts on 30 May in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur.