The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a new section on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in its Class 9 Social Science textbook. The chapter explains that the exercise aims to ensure that every eligible citizen is included in the voters’ list while removing the names of ineligible voters.
According to the textbook, the SIR is described as an “unparalleled” effort to prepare accurate electoral rolls. It states that the revision process helps identify duplicate, deceased, shifted, or otherwise ineligible voters while making sure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral process.
The new section has been included in the revised Social Science textbook released by NCERT under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 curriculum. It explains the role of the Election Commission in maintaining free and fair elections and highlights the importance of updating electoral rolls from time to time.
The inclusion of the SIR chapter comes shortly after NCERT added a section on the 1975–77 Emergency in the same Class 9 textbook. Both additions have drawn public and political attention, with supporters calling them important for civic education while critics have questioned the selection of topics.
The textbook presents the SIR as a key administrative exercise designed to strengthen democracy by ensuring that electoral rolls remain accurate and up to date. It also stresses that citizens have a responsibility to verify their details and cooperate with election authorities during the revision process.
The revised textbook is expected to be used by Class 9 students across schools following the NCERT curriculum.
