Reading Comprehension From The Hindu: What does it mean to live in a democracy if your name no longer appears on the electoral roll? In Bihar today, this question has attained chilling salience. Lakhs of citizens face an imminent threat of disenfranchisement solely because they may be unable to meet the onerous, shifting, and arbitrary burdens imposed on them by the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The revision, announced in June 2025, with Bihar’s State elections looming in the background, has ushered in a period of deep uncertainty. There can be little doubt that electoral rolls must be periodically updated, ensuring that people eligible to vote are included and ineligible persons are excluded. The integrity of our democratic process demands nothing less.
However, the present exercise seeks to redraw the rolls in a fashion that is both opaque and hurried. With the publication of a draft roll scheduled for August 1, it is difficult to see how the administration can conduct so expansive an exercise in a constitutionally sound manner within so narrow a time frame.
What is troubling
More troubling still is the nature of the classifications that the ECI has introduced. A June 24 notification lists 11 acceptable forms of documentary proof — these range from passports and caste certificates to matriculation records. But, notably, it omits others that are more widely held, including Aadhaar card, ration card, driver’s licence, and even the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the ECI itself.
In parallel, the exercise also carves out a difference between voters who were included in the roll as part of the last intensive revision in 2003 and those added subsequently. The latter group must now re-establish their eligibility through a fresh application supported by documents. The ECI has not explained why it believes these entries, created and verified through its past processes, now warrant re-verification on a mass scale. If the implication is that the prior inclusion was flawed, then the onus must lie with the state, not with the voter.
To be sure, Article 324 of the Constitution empowers the ECI to maintain superintendence, direction, and control over the preparation of the electoral rolls. Article 326 also mandates that elections are predicated on adult suffrage — that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on an appointed date shall be eligible to vote.
summary of Reading Comprehension From The Hindu
The passage highlights the challenges faced by voters in Bihar due to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. It questions the rationale and fairness of the process, especially the arbitrary documentation requirements and the lack of explanation for re-verification of already-included voters.
Questions related to Reading Comprehension From The Hindu
Q1.What is the primary concern raised by the author in the passage?
(a) The low voter turnout in Bihar
(b) The misuse of Aadhaar cards in elections
(c) The arbitrary and opaque voter verification process in Bihar
(d) The need for more polling booths in rural areas
Q2. According to the passage, which of the following forms of identification is NOTaccepted by the ECI in the current revision?
(a) Passport
(b) Matriculation certificate
(c) Aadhaar card
(d) Caste certificate
Q3.Why does the author believe that re-verifying voters added after 2003 is problematic?
(a) Because those voters are likely to be underage
(b) Because the ECI suspects fraud
(c) Because those entries were previously verified by the ECI itself
(d) Because new voters do not have documents
Q4. What constitutional provision gives the ECI the power to conduct electoral roll revisions?
(a) Article 14
(b) Article 324
(d) Article 21
(c) Article 370
Q5. What tone best describes the author’s perspective in the passage?
(a) Optimistic
(b) Indifferent
(c) Critical
(d) Celebratory
Correct answer of the paragraph Reading Comprehension From The Hindu
Q1 Correct Answer: (c)
📝 Explanation: The passage criticizes the Election Commission’s arbitrary rules and rushed voter verification process that may disenfranchise many voters.
Q2 Correct Answer: (c)
📝 Explanation: The passage explicitly states that Aadhaar, ration card, and even EPIC are omitted from the list of acceptable documents.
Q3 Correct Answer: (c)
📝 Explanation: The passage argues that these entries were created and verified by the ECI earlier, so questioning them now shifts the burden unfairly to the voter.
Q4 Correct Answer: (b)
📝 Explanation: The passage clearly mentions that Article 324 empowers the ECI to oversee electoral rolls.
Q5 Correct Answer: (c)
📝 Explanation: The author adopts a critical tone, highlighting the flaws and potential disenfranchisement caused by the ECI’s process.
Reading Comprehension from The Hindu: Vocabulary
Disenfranchisement
Meaning: Deprivation of the right to voteSynonyms: Exclusion, marginalization, deprivation
Antonyms: Enfranchisement, empowerment
Onerous
Meaning: Involving a lot of effort or difficulty
Synonyms: Burdensome, demanding, taxing
Antonyms: Easy, light, effortless
Arbitrary
Meaning: Based on personal whim, not logic or system
Synonyms: Random, capricious, whimsical
Antonyms: Rational, logical, reasonable
Opaque
Meaning: Not transparent or difficult to understand
Synonyms: Unclear, obscure, ambiguous
Antonyms: Clear, transparent, obvious
Hurried
Meaning: Done quickly or in a rush
Synonyms: Rushed, hasty, fast
Antonyms: Deliberate, careful, unhurried