THE HINDU DATED 20TH FABRUARY 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-110

THE HINDU DATED 20TH FABRUARY 2026.

1) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 22 States from April: EC’s phased push

The Election Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officers in 22 States and UTs to complete preparatory work for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls beginning April. The move targets states where intensive revision has not been conducted recently, signalling a staggered, resource-optimised approach, possibly coordinated with Census authorities. The logic is institutional housekeeping: clean, updated rolls enhance electoral integrity, reduce litigation, and pre-empt allegations of exclusion or duplication. However, SIR exercises often raise concerns about documentation burdens and potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable groups. The underlying stand in coverage is procedural legitimacy—revision is necessary, but it must be transparent, inclusive, and adequately communicated. The gist: as India approaches major electoral cycles, the EC is prioritising administrative preparedness, aiming to balance accuracy with access so that roll purification does not become roll exclusion.

2) “Freebies” debate: SC flags ‘appeasement’ in poll-time largesse