Indian Citizenship and SIR: Who Counts in 2026

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has set off a cascade of concerns over documentation, disenfranchisement, and the legal meaning of citizenship itself. Contradictory official statements and sweeping deletions across several States have left voters and observers struggling to make sense of what is happening and why.

What makes someone an Indian citizen? This package highlights the lack of a clear answer to that question. These stories explain the legal standing of the passport and the use of Form 7 to challenge voters, examine the broader question of citizenship, and follow migrant workers who tried and failed to vote in their home State. They also present in-depth interviews with legal experts and academics on the implementation of the SIR.