According to Rule 25(1) of The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, electoral rolls can be revised “either intensively or summarily or partly intensively and partly summarily, as the Election Commission may direct.” The Election Commission’s own website lists frequently asked questions or FAQs relating to the updating of electoral rolls and has a fourth category – ‘Special Summary Revision.’
The Representation of the People Act, 1950 empowers the Election Commission to revise electoral rolls and conduct ‘special revisions’. The term Special Intensive Revision – now being used by the Election Commission in its Bihar exercise does not find mention in either.
The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 which provides under Rule 25 the statutory rules for revision of electoral rolls, lists three types of revision – intensive or summary or partly intensively and partly summarily. But does not mention ‘Special Intensive Revision’ as the one being conducted in Bihar.
18/07/2025