Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently completed and submitted his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) enumeration form in Lucknow, demonstrating active participation in the Election Commission's nationwide initiative to update and verify electoral rolls. Singh, who is also the sitting Member of Parliament from Lucknow, handed over the completed form to the Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manoj Singh at his residence, having thoroughly reviewed the required formalities before submission.

This submission is part of the second phase of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision exercise, which started on November 4 and will continue until December 4, 2025. The process is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, and aims to ensure accurate and up-to-date voter lists ahead of upcoming elections. The revision phase includes detailed enumeration activities to verify the electoral details of citizens, a move that helps to clean and fortify the democratic process by reducing duplicates and errors in voter rolls.

The SIR exercise is especially significant in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal, where elections are expected in 2026. Over 49 crore electors across these regions have received their enumeration forms for this phase. Uttar Pradesh, along with Goa, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has reported high dissemination rates of these forms, underlining the administrative push for comprehensive voter database management. The draft electoral rolls from this process are scheduled to be published on December 9, followed by a period for claims and objections, with final rolls expected to be released on February 7, 2026.

Rajnath Singh's active role highlights the importance of political leaders leading by example during crucial electoral processes. This level of engagement serves to encourage public participation and trust in the electoral system, fostering transparency and accountability. In past instances, similar voter list revisions have played a pivotal role in minimizing electoral fraud and enhancing the accuracy of voter registration, which is foundational to robust democratic governance.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also emphasized the importance of this exercise, urging all political parties to support the SIR by mobilizing their workers to assist in the revision process at polling stations. Despite some resistance from opposition parties concerned about potential disenfranchisement, the government maintains that the process is essential for the integrity of elections. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s submission of his SIR enumeration form is a noteworthy example of electoral accountability and civic responsibility, underscoring the collaborative efforts needed to maintain accurate and credible voter databases in India's vast democratic framework.