Next round of SIR for remaining states likely from April; ECI tells 22 states to complete preparations
Zee News
Special Intensive Revision involves a thorough update of electoral rolls, including enrolling eligible new voters, verifying existing entries and deleting ineligible names.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday instructed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in 22 States and Union Territories to expedite preparatory work for the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, scheduled to commence in April 2026.
In a communication to CEOs of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana and Uttarakhand, EC Secretary Pawan Diwan urged officials to complete all advance arrangements promptly so the exercise can begin smoothly next month.
At present, the nationwide SIR drive is underway in 12 States and Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The revision exercise comes ahead of the biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), where 37 seats across 10 States will fall vacant as members complete their terms in April 2026. The Commission has already released the election schedule. The terms of members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana are due to end in April.
According to the announced timeline, the notification will be issued on February 26. Nominations can be filed until March 5, with scrutiny scheduled for March 6. Candidates may withdraw their names by March 9. Polling will take place on March 16, and vote counting will be held the same day at 5 pm. The entire election process is slated to conclude by March 20.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed a meeting with resigned Assam Congress Chief Bhupen Borah tonight. Borah is set to join BJP on Feb 22 with a safe seat promise after clashing with Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain.
Gold and silver prices have fallen sharply over the past 20 days, with gold down 21% and silver down 45%, amid expectations of a stronger US dollar and easing geopolitical tensions. Experts suggest prices may decline gradually, possibly pushing gold below ₹1 lakh by 2027.
India and France have inaugurated a final assembly line for Airbus H125 helicopters at Vemagal, Karnataka, in a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus. The Rs 1,000 crore programme is expected to boost defence manufacturing, generate employment, and produce ‘Made in India’ helicopters for domestic use and export from 2027.
The Solar Eclipse 2026 will feature the stunning ‘Ring of Fire’ phenomenon, where the Moon does not fully cover the Sun.
ICE has detained an Indian national over alleged sexual assault of a minor and other charges, amid a broader immigration crackdown in US.
The AAP Supremo said that for the first time in Punjab’s history, a government has taken firm action against drug peddlers rather than protecting them.
RBI Assistant Notification 2026: As per the notification, the online registration process has begun from February 16, 2026. The last date to apply for RBI Assistant is March 8, 2026.
Thousands of daily wagers tried to march to the ruling partys national conference office; police intervened and prevented them from reaching it. CM Abdullah sought two days to finalise a formal solution.
Media adviser to the former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, Sanjaya Baru, has recently suggested that Mamata Banerjee, CM of West Bengal, as the lead of the INDIA bloc would be beneficial. Meanwhile, former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday suggested that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin is the best man to consolidate the INDIA bloc.
AI Impact Summit 2026: Traffic movement in parts of the national capital could be affected during the AI Impact Summit 2026. The India-AI Impact Summit will be held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South.
Delhi AQI alert: The national capital continued to record ‘poor’ air quality on Monday morning, even as the AQI improved slightly. Delhis Anand Vihar recorded AQI at 293, Bawana at 259, Chandni Chowk at 247, DTU at 203, Dwarka Sector 8 at 234, and ITO at 200.
Delhi AQI alert: The national capital continued to record ‘poor’ air quality on Monday morning, even as the AQI improved slightly. Delhis Anand Vihar recorded AQI at 293, Bawana at 259, Chandni Chowk at 247, DTU at 203, Dwarka Sector 8 at 234, and ITO at 200.
Earlier, the Border Roads Organisation carried out a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation at Jammu and Kashmirs Chatergala Pass, located at an altitude of 10,500 feet, on the Bhaderwah-Chatergala axis. The operation followed heavy snowfall that disrupted connectivity in the area.