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6 Jan 2026·Source: The Indian Express
6 min
Polity & GovernanceSocial IssuesEDITORIAL

Single Identity Register Threatens Women's Political Participation

Proposed SIR could disenfranchise millions of women due to marital name changes, reversing electoral progress.

Single Identity Register Threatens Women's Political Participation

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters

Editorial Analysis

The authors argue that the proposed Single Identity Register (SIR) poses a significant threat to women's political participation in India by potentially disenfranchising millions due to name changes after marriage. They advocate for a more inclusive and sensitive approach to electoral reforms.

Main Arguments:

  1. The SIR, by linking various databases, will likely flag discrepancies for women who change their names after marriage, leading to their exclusion from voter lists. This overlooks a common social practice.
  2. Women's political participation has seen significant progress, with their voter turnout matching or exceeding men's in many states. The SIR threatens to undo this progress.
  3. The issue of "missing women voters" is a known challenge, and the SIR could exacerbate it by creating new bureaucratic hurdles for women to update their identity documents.
  4. The current electoral roll revision process already faces challenges, and adding another layer of complexity through SIR without proper safeguards will disproportionately affect women.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that while electoral reforms are necessary, they must be implemented with sensitivity to social realities. They urge for a robust mechanism to address name changes for women to prevent their disenfranchisement and ensure the continued progress of women's political participation.

Policy Implications

The editorial implies a need for the government to reconsider the design of the SIR or implement strong safeguards and a simplified process for women to update their identity documents, especially concerning name changes after marriage, to prevent electoral exclusion.
What Happened The editorial discusses the potential negative impact of the proposed Single Identity Register (SIR) on women's political participation in India. It argues that the new system, which aims to streamline identity verification, could inadvertently disenfranchise a significant number of women, particularly those who have changed their names after marriage, thereby reversing decades of progress in their electoral engagement. Context & Background India has seen a gradual but significant increase in women's voter turnout and political participation over the years, with women's turnout often matching or exceeding men's in recent elections. This progress is attributed to various factors, including targeted outreach and increased awareness. The proposed SIR, while intended to simplify identity management, poses a risk to this hard-won progress by potentially creating hurdles for women whose identity documents might not seamlessly reflect their marital name changes. Key Details & Facts The article highlights that in six states (Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala), women's voter turnout has surpassed men's. In three of these states, the gap is more than 5 percentage points. The SIR system, by linking various databases, could flag discrepancies in identity documents for women who have changed their surnames post-marriage. This could lead to a situation where they are deemed "missing women voters" or face challenges in updating their electoral rolls, potentially leading to their exclusion. Implications & Impact The primary implication is a potential setback for women's political empowerment and democratic inclusion. If a large number of women are unable to vote due to identity discrepancies, it would undermine the principle of universal adult franchise and skew electoral outcomes. It could also disproportionately affect women from marginalized communities who may already face challenges in accessing and updating official documents. Different Perspectives While the government's perspective on SIR is likely focused on efficiency and security in identity management, the editorial presents a critical viewpoint, emphasizing the unintended consequences for women's electoral rights. It suggests that the design and implementation of such a system must be sensitive to social realities, particularly the common practice of name changes after marriage, to avoid disenfranchisement. Exam Relevance This topic is highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 1 (Social Issues - Women, Population), GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance - Electoral Reforms, Democratic Participation, Government Policies). It highlights the intersection of technology, governance, and social dynamics, making it crucial for understanding contemporary challenges to democratic processes.

Key Facts

1.

Women's voter turnout surpassed men's in 6 states (Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala)

2.

Gender gap in voter turnout over 5% in 3 states

3.

SIR links various identity databases

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

GS Paper 1: Social Issues - Role of women, population and associated issues.

2.

GS Paper 2: Polity & Governance - Electoral reforms, democratic participation, government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation, fundamental rights (right to vote, privacy).

3.

GS Paper 3: Economy (indirectly) - Digital Public Infrastructure, technology and its impact on governance.

Visual Insights

States Where Women's Voter Turnout Exceeded Men's (2024 General Elections)

This map highlights the six states where women's voter turnout surpassed men's in the 2024 General Elections, as mentioned in the news. Three of these states show a significant gap of more than 5 percentage points, indicating strong female electoral engagement but also potential vulnerability to identity-related disenfranchisement by systems like SIR.

Loading interactive map...

📍Rajasthan📍West Bengal📍Gujarat📍Odisha📍Uttar Pradesh📍Kerala
More Information

Background

India's journey towards robust identity management for electoral purposes began post-independence with the establishment of the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Article 324 of the Constitution. The Representation of the People Act, 1950, laid down the framework for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, ensuring universal adult franchise as enshrined in Article 326. Initially, voter identification relied on basic lists, but over time, the need for more secure and verifiable identity became apparent.

The introduction of Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) in 1993 was a significant step to prevent impersonation and streamline the electoral process. This move aimed to enhance the integrity of elections by providing a standardized proof of identity for voters. The subsequent advent of Aadhaar, a unique 12-digit identification number, marked a paradigm shift towards a digital identity ecosystem, intended to simplify service delivery and verification across various government schemes.

These developments reflect a continuous effort to balance accessibility with accuracy in identity management, a challenge that proposals like the Single Identity Register (SIR) seek to address, albeit with new complexities.

Latest Developments

In recent years, India has witnessed a significant push towards digital governance and the creation of a comprehensive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Initiatives like the 'Digital India' program aim to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. This includes efforts to link various databases and identity proofs to streamline government services, enhance efficiency, and reduce fraud.

The enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, is a crucial development, establishing a legal framework for data privacy and protection in the digital age. However, the implementation of such large-scale digital identity projects, including proposals like the SIR, faces ongoing debates concerning data security, privacy implications, potential for exclusion, and the balance between state surveillance and individual rights. The future outlook involves navigating these complex issues while leveraging technology for inclusive governance, ensuring that digital solutions do not inadvertently create new barriers for vulnerable populations, especially in critical democratic processes like elections.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. With reference to the proposed Single Identity Register (SIR) and electoral processes in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is constitutionally mandated to prepare and periodically revise electoral rolls. 2. Article 326 of the Indian Constitution guarantees universal adult franchise, irrespective of gender, caste, or religion. 3. The proposed SIR aims to link various identity databases to create a unified identity for all citizens, primarily for electoral purposes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 only
  • B.1 and 2 only
  • C.2 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is correct. Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections, including the preparation of electoral rolls, in the Election Commission. Statement 2 is correct. Article 326 of the Indian Constitution provides for universal adult franchise, stating that elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage. Statement 3 is incorrect. While SIR aims to streamline identity verification by linking various databases, its primary purpose is not solely for electoral purposes, but for broader identity management. The editorial highlights its *potential impact* on electoral rolls, not that its *primary purpose* is electoral.

2. Consider the following statements regarding digital identity and data protection in India: 1. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, mandates that all identity verification systems must be linked to Aadhaar. 2. Aadhaar is primarily a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship. 3. The concept of 'Digital Public Infrastructure' (DPI) refers to shared digital systems that are foundational for public and private sector innovation and service delivery. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect. The DPDP Act, 2023, focuses on data protection principles and obligations, not on mandating linkage of all identity verification systems to Aadhaar. While Aadhaar is used for many verifications, the Act does not make it universally mandatory for all systems. Statement 2 is correct. Aadhaar is designed as a proof of identity and residence, not citizenship. This distinction is crucial. Statement 3 is correct. DPIs are indeed shared digital systems (like UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker) that provide foundational capabilities for various public and private services, fostering innovation and inclusion.

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