UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Voter lists shrink over 15% since 2024 elections in States, U.T.s where SIR third-phase draft lists are out

Q1. With reference to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and its distinction from the routine revision of rolls, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike a summary revision, an intensive revision under the SIR involves house-to-house enumeration by Booth Level Officers, and the Commission ordered it in exercise of its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 2. The provision invoked for the SIR permits such a revision to be ordered only for an entire State at a time, and only during the year immediately preceding a general election to the House concerned. 3. In 2026 the Supreme Court held that the SIR falls within the Commission's statutory mandate under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and is in consonance with its constitutional obligation to ensure free and fair elections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike a summary revision, an intensive revision under the SIR involves house-to-house enumeration by Booth Level Officers, and the Commission ordered it in exercise of its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
  2. The provision invoked for the SIR permits such a revision to be ordered only for an entire State at a time, and only during the year immediately preceding a general election to the House concerned.
  3. In 2026 the Supreme Court held that the SIR falls within the Commission's statutory mandate under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and is in consonance with its constitutional obligation to ensure free and fair elections.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, a 'special revision' of an electoral roll, as distinct from the other revision provisions of that Act, means which one of the following?

  • A. A revision that the Election Commission may direct at any time for any constituency or part of a constituency, for reasons to be recorded, in such manner as it may think fit
  • B. A revision that must be carried out before every general election with reference to the qualifying date, and which comes into force on final publication of the roll
  • C. A correction of particulars or deletion of an entry carried out by the registration officer after final publication, on application by an elector or on his own motion
  • D. A re-examination of contested entries carried out by the district magistrate on the basis of appeals preferred against orders of the registration officer

Q3. With reference to the third-phase SIR draft electoral rolls covering 17 States and Union Territories, consider the following statements: 1. The State that recorded the largest absolute fall in the number of electors was not the State/UT that recorded the sharpest fall in percentage terms. 2. Among the two units recording the steepest percentage declines, the National Capital Territory of Delhi recorded a steeper decline than Chandigarh. 3. The total number of electors deleted in these draft rolls was smaller than the net fall in the number of electors measured against the 2024 Lok Sabha rolls. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The State that recorded the largest absolute fall in the number of electors was not the State/UT that recorded the sharpest fall in percentage terms.
  2. Among the two units recording the steepest percentage declines, the National Capital Territory of Delhi recorded a steeper decline than Chandigarh.
  3. The total number of electors deleted in these draft rolls was smaller than the net fall in the number of electors measured against the 2024 Lok Sabha rolls.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In the reporting on the third-phase SIR draft rolls, the headline figure of 15.7 per cent is best understood as which one of the following?

  • A. The fall in the number of electors in the draft rolls relative to the electors on the 2024 Lok Sabha rolls of the same States and Union Territories
  • B. The share of electors on the pre-SIR rolls of those States and Union Territories against whom deletion was ordered during the enumeration stage
  • C. The share of the enumeration forms distributed in those States and Union Territories that had not been received back by the registration officers
  • D. The fall in the number of electors in the draft rolls relative to the electors on the rolls used for the most recent Assembly elections in those units

Q5. With reference to the Special Intensive Revision conducted in Bihar in 2025 and the proceedings arising from it, consider the following: 1. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to accept the Aadhaar card as an additional document, over and above the documents originally prescribed for the exercise. 2. Electors whose names already appeared in the 2003 electoral roll of the State were not required to file documentary proof in respect of themselves. 3. About 3.66 lakh electors were left out of the final electoral roll published after the exercise, and the Court took up the question of their remedies. 4. The Election Commission's position before the Court was that the Aadhaar card constitutes proof of Indian citizenship for the purpose of registration as an elector. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to accept the Aadhaar card as an additional document, over and above the documents originally prescribed for the exercise.
  2. Electors whose names already appeared in the 2003 electoral roll of the State were not required to file documentary proof in respect of themselves.
  3. About 3.66 lakh electors were left out of the final electoral roll published after the exercise, and the Court took up the question of their remedies.
  4. The Election Commission's position before the Court was that the Aadhaar card constitutes proof of Indian citizenship for the purpose of registration as an elector.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q6. In its orders arising out of the 2025 Special Intensive Revision, the Supreme Court directed which one of the following to deploy para-legal volunteers across districts to assist excluded electors and political parties in making submissions?

  • A. The State Legal Services Authority of the State concerned
  • B. The National Legal Services Authority, through its regional offices
  • C. The State Election Commission constituted under Article 243K of the Constitution
  • D. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, through district grievance cells

Q7. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the officer who supervises the preparation, revision and correction of all electoral rolls in a State, subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission, is which one of the following?

  • A. The chief electoral officer designated for the State in consultation with the State Government
  • B. The district election officer designated for each district in consultation with the State Government
  • C. The electoral registration officer designated for each constituency in consultation with the State Government
  • D. The State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor of the State concerned

Q8. Consider the following pairs of statutory provisions and their content: 1. Section 13B, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — the electoral roll for a constituency is prepared and revised by an electoral registration officer designated by the Election Commission. 2. Section 24, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — an appeal against an order of the electoral registration officer lies to the district magistrate, with a further appeal to the chief electoral officer. 3. Section 13AA, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — designation of a chief electoral officer for each State to supervise the electoral rolls of that State. 4. Representation of the People Act, 1951 — the qualifications for registration of a person as an elector in an electoral roll, including the qualifying age and ordinary residence. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Section 13B, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — the electoral roll for a constituency is prepared and revised by an electoral registration officer designated by the Election Commission.
  2. Section 24, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — an appeal against an order of the electoral registration officer lies to the district magistrate, with a further appeal to the chief electoral officer.
  3. Section 13AA, Representation of the People Act, 1950 — designation of a chief electoral officer for each State to supervise the electoral rolls of that State.
  4. Representation of the People Act, 1951 — the qualifications for registration of a person as an elector in an electoral roll, including the qualifying age and ordinary residence.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q9. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the panel of five names placed before the Selection Committee is prepared by a Search Committee headed by which one of the following?

  • A. The Union Minister of Law and Justice, with two members not below the rank of Secretary
  • B. The Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, with two members not below the rank of Secretary
  • C. The Chief Election Commissioner, with two serving Election Commissioners as members
  • D. The Union Home Secretary, with two members not below the rank of Additional Secretary

Q10. With reference to the appointment and conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, consider the following: 1. They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single largest opposition party there. 2. They hold office for a term of six years or till attaining the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier. 3. An Election Commissioner may be removed from office in the same manner as the Chief Election Commissioner, and no recommendation of any authority is necessary for such removal. 4. The Selection Committee is bound to confine its choice to the panel of names forwarded to it, and its recommendation is in every case binding on the President. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single largest opposition party there.
  2. They hold office for a term of six years or till attaining the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
  3. An Election Commissioner may be removed from office in the same manner as the Chief Election Commissioner, and no recommendation of any authority is necessary for such removal.
  4. The Selection Committee is bound to confine its choice to the panel of names forwarded to it, and its recommendation is in every case binding on the President.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q11. An elector aggrieved by an order of the electoral registration officer on inclusion in or exclusion from the roll during the SIR may prefer a first appeal to which authority, and within what period, under the Representation of the People Act, 1950?

  • A. To the district magistrate, within fifteen days of the order
  • B. To the chief electoral officer, within fifteen days of the order
  • C. To the district magistrate, within thirty days of the order
  • D. To the Election Commission, within thirty days of the order