SIR Goes Beyond Polls As Bengal, Bihar Vow To Bar Deleted Names From Social Welfare Schemes

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 10:46 IST

BJP governments in both states have started using SIR-linked data to identify beneficiaries they believe should no longer receive welfare benefits.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, conducted by the Election Commission of India to identify and remove dead, duplicate and allegedly ineligible voters, has now expanded beyond elections and into government welfare schemes in West Bengal and Bihar.

As per the Indian Express report, BJP governments in both states have started using SIR-linked data to identify beneficiaries they believe should no longer receive welfare benefits.

New BJP Government Signals Stricter Checks In West Bengal

Days after the BJP formed its first government in West Bengal under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the new administration signalled that those whose names were deleted during the SIR process would not be eligible for several government welfare schemes.

After taking charge, Women and Child Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul told the Telegraph that people deleted from the voter list during the SIR, including those whose appeals are pending before the tribunals, would not “for the time being" receive the benefits of its schemes like, Annapurna Bhandar scheme, a BJP manifesto scheme aimed to replace the Trinamool Congress’ Lakshmir Bhandar.

“We will introduce the Annapurna Bhandar for women from June 1. Women will receive Rs 3,000 a month. But those still being verified by the tribunals will not be included in the list of beneficiaries for the time being," she told the news outlet.

She added that individuals who later regain their names on the electoral rolls would again become eligible for welfare support. The minister also said people who had applied under the Citizenship Amendment Act would remain eligible for welfare benefits.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also echoed similar sentiments, saying welfare schemes would continue but would function through a “transparent process".

“No deceased person, illegal infiltrator, or non-Indian individual will be allowed to avail benefits meant for citizens of the state," Adhikari was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The SIR exercise has been particularly controversial in minority-dominated and migrant-heavy areas of West Bengal, where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has accused the BJP of attempting voter suppression.

According to reports, around 91 lakh names were removed during the SIR process in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. More than 27 lakh people reportedly remained on a list of “logical discrepancies" and were unable to vote in recent Assembly polls.

Welfare Benefits, Ration Access Under Review In Bihar

Like the one in West Bengal, a similar process is underway in Bihar under the NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

Choudhary has said people whose names were removed during the SIR exercise will no longer be entitled to government welfare benefits, as reported by the Indian Express.

“People whose names have been deleted from the Bihar electoral roll will not be entitled to any government benefits, including ration and other welfare schemes," he told the news outlet.

He also said bank passbooks of such individuals could be cancelled “in due course of time".

State Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary said around five lakh names had already been deleted from the list of ration card holders after the SIR exercise.

The Election Commission’s revision exercise, conducted ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, reportedly removed nearly 65 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls.

Opposition Slams Move

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the developments in a post on X, questioning whether inclusion in electoral rolls was becoming the basis for citizenship.

“Is citizenship the basis for inclusion in the electoral roll OR is inclusion in the electoral roll the basis of citizenship?" he wrote, urging the Supreme Court to examine the issue.

News india SIR Goes Beyond Polls As Bengal, Bihar Vow To Bar Deleted Names From Social Welfare Schemes

Read More