The second phase of the SIR began on November 4 in 12 states and UTs, including poll-bound West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. “One of the demands raised by us was to take the 2001-02 SIR process of Maharashtra which lasted for 13 months under consideration while undertaking the process now. The Maharashtra letter also flagged an additional activity not present in SIR 2002: the mapping of electors from current data to the last SIR data, describing it as a “time consuming” exercise that was not accounted for in the ECI’s guidelines. The SIR 2002 involved 83 days of preliminary work, including review of officer postings, appointment and training of enumerators and supervisors, printing of forms and house numbering, before the house-to-house enumeration phase began on November 5, 2001. ECI officials, however, said most states, including Maharashtra, where the SIR is yet to be announced, had begun mapping existing electors with the last intensive revision roll.

Source: Indian Express April 11, 2026 23:04 UTC