Editorial

In a significant submission before the Supreme Court on November 27,2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has categorically stated that the Union government’s powers to intervene in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are severely circumscribed. The Centre, the Commission clarified, can neither direct the deletion of any voter nor mandate blanket citizenship verification drives during the SIR process. This clarification, coming amid heightened political anxiety over alleged targeting of minority and marginalised communities in 12 states and Union Territories, is both timely and reassuring.

The SIR exercise, launched after the delimitation freeze ends in 2026, was always meant to be a routine, data-driven cleanup of electoral rolls. Yet, in several states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, local administrations issued circulars that appeared to transform the revision into a quasi-citizenship scrutiny, asking voters to produce legacy documents dating back decades. Booth-level officers were reportedly instructed to flag “doubtful” citizens, a term undefined in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 or the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The resulting panic, especially in Assam, West Bengal, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, saw long queues of elderly citizens and women desperately hunting for pre-1971 records to prove their Indian lineage.

The ECI’s affidavit effectively pulls the brakes on this overreach. By reminding the Centre that the final authority on inclusion or deletion rests solely with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) acting on verifiable evidence and after due process, the Commission has reaffirmed its constitutional autonomy under Article 324. More importantly, it has drawn a red line: citizenship determination is a judicial function, not an administrative shortcut to be executed through the backdoor of electoral revision.

This intervention exposes the fragility of federal propriety when electoral processes become politically charged. State governments, regardless of party, must understand that the voter list is not a tool for demographic re-engineering. The Supreme Court’s own 2005 ruling in Lal Babu Hussein had warned against mass deletions without individual hearings; the ECI’s present stance faithfully upholds that precedent. The message to citizens is equally vital: no one can be struck off the rolls merely on suspicion or bureaucratic whim. The burden of proof lies on the objector, not the voter. In an era of deepening identity anxieties, the Election Commission’s firm defence of due process serves as a bulwark against arbitrary disenfranchisement.

As India approaches the 2029 general election after fresh delimitation, the integrity of the electoral roll will define the legitimacy of the mandate. By asserting its independence now, the ECI has not only corrected a dangerous drift but also restored a measure of public faith. The Court must now translate this assurance into a binding directive, ensuring that the SIR remains what it was always intended to be: an exercise in accuracy, not exclusion.

India’s rural economy is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. While agriculture remains vital, rural India today is no longer bound by its traditional economic identity. Rising aspirations—driven by education, connectivity, and exposure—are pushing rural communities towards a more diversified and opportunity-rich future.

A major shift is the rapid growth of the rural non-farm sector, now a key pillar of economic stability. Small manufacturing units—such as textiles, food processing, carpentry, and construction materials—are emerging across villages, offering local employment and reducing distress migration. Equally significant is the booming services sector, with rural youth running coaching centres, beauty parlours, mobile repair shops, eateries, and digital service kiosks. These enterprises not only create income but also modernise village life.

Technology has been a game changer. Affordable smartphones, digital payments, and e-commerce have opened new markets for rural entrepreneurs—especially women. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have empowered millions of women to start micro-businesses in dairy, tailoring, handicrafts, and food products, strengthening family incomes and social confidence.

Government initiatives like PMEGP, Startup India, the National Rural Livelihood Mission, and improved rural roads and internet connectivity have further accelerated this growth. They enable skill development, access to credit, and market linkages that rural communities historically lacked.

Supporting this transformation is essential. A strong rural economy ensures inclusive national growth, reduces poverty, and curbs the urban-rural divide. Strengthening local enterprises, improving digital infrastructure, and expanding skill-based training can create sustainable livelihoods within villages themselves.

India’s future prosperity depends not only on thriving cities but also on vibrant villages. The new rural economy—diverse, dynamic, and aspiration-driven—has the potential to become one of the country’s biggest engines of development. Investing in it is not just desirable; it is imperative for a balanced and resilient India.

• SAS Kirmani