Election Commission dissent row: 2026 internal objections, Form 6 changes and SIR under scrutiny

Direct fact

In September 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) faced a dissent row after reports said two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months during the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Key specifics

• The ECI said on September 23, 2026 that all its actions, including SIR, were in accordance with laws and instructions.
• The Indian Express report said the two Election Commissioners raised objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months.
• Form 6, used for fresh voter registration, was altered to ask whether the applicant or their parents/grandparents “exist” in the roll at the time of the last SIR.
• In West Bengal, 38 lakh appeals were still pending, according to the report cited in the news item.
• The Goa case mentioned 97 voters who were found eligible after a Supreme Court-mandated hearing but were left off the final roll.

Exam lens

Polity and constitutional bodies, ECI, SIR, Form 6, Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and Article-based questions on electoral administration are likely. TNPSC may ask which body conducts electoral roll revision or which statutory form is linked to voter registration.