
Bihar SIR form collection touches nearly half-way mark in 14 days; 17 more days to go: ECI
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar is progressing well, with 3,70,77,077 Enumeration Forms, which is 46.95 per cent of the total of 7,89,69,844 (nearly 7.90 crore) electors in Bihar, collected (at 6:00 PM) in the first 14 days since the issuance of SIR instructions on June 24.
In the first two weeks of the exercise, 7.90 crore forms were printed, and over 97 per cent of forms (7,70,44,990) were distributed to electors. Also, 18.16 per cent of the forms have been uploaded to the ECINET. A large number of prospective electors prefer to submit the Enumeration Forms along with the eligibility documents as specified in SIR order dated 24.06.25
Now, the effort is to collect the remaining half of the enumeration forms and eligibility documents with still 17 more days before July 25.
In the last 24 hours, i.e. from 6.00 PM yesterday, 82,78,617 Enumeration Forms have been collected, which amounts to 10.5 per cent collected in a single day. Maintaining the same momentum on the field and with just about 50 per cent of forms remaining to be collected, the exercise could be completed well within time.
With the addition of 20,603 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on the ground, the collection effort has been further expedited. Already, 77,895 BLOs have been going house-to-house to help the electors fill out their Enumeration Forms and collect them. BLOs have already completed the first of their mandated three visits to each household and the second visit is underway.
Nearly 4 lakh volunteers, including government officials, NCC cadets, NSS members, etc., are also working in the field to facilitate the elderly, PwD, sick and vulnerable populations in the SIR process. Besides, EROs covering all 243 ACs, 963 AEROs, 38 DEOs, and the CEO of the state are at the ground level to facilitate the electors to submit their forms.
District Presidents of all recognised political parties have also stepped up the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and they are actively participating on the ground. As of date, 1,56,626 BLAs have been appointed, up from 1,38,680 at the beginning of the exercise. They can, even now, appoint more BLAs as per 25.2.1 of the Manual on Electoral Rolls. (ANI)
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India Gazette
an hour ago
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Department of Official Language organises
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 12 (ANI): Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs organised 'Dakshin Samvad' in Hyderabad as part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations. The event became a vivid testimony to linguistic harmony, the multilingual consciousness of the nation, and the continuous progress of the Hindi language. In her welcome address, Secretary of the Department of Official Language, Anshuli Arya, said in a press note, 'Today's celebration - 'Dakshin Samvad' - is being organised in South India because Hindi has been adopted as the official language across the nation. Therefore, the celebration should not remain confined to a central event but be observed nationwide. With this spirit, we have gathered today on the historic and culturally rich land of Hyderabad. Hyderabad--where the voices of Telugu, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, and English echo together--is not just a city, but a reflection of India's multilingual soul.' She also remembered Ramdhari Singh, the first official language advisor to the country's government as a person who raised a fearless voice in favour of Hindi in the Parliament. 'The Department of Official Language was established on 26 June 1975. Many scholars, officers, and dedicated workers have contributed to this journey--some no longer with us physically, yet their memory and contributions remain indelible. We especially bow to the poet laureate Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who was the first Official Language Advisor to the Government of India and who raised a fearless voice in favour of Hindi in Parliament,' Arya said. Highlighting the department's 50-year journey, she said that initiatives including 'Mantra' and 'Leela' had strengthened the department technologically. 'To promote the use of Hindi in offices, the department provided policies, rules, training programs, and technological tools. The inspections by the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language accelerated these efforts. Initiatives like 'Mantra,' 'Leela,' 'e-Mahashabdakosh,' and 'Kanthasth' have strengthened the department technologically. After 2014, this journey gained special momentum,' she stated. Speaking on the Prime Minister's role in bringing a revolutionary change in the perception of Hindi, she said, 'The simple, impactful, and spirited speeches delivered by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in Hindi, both in India and abroad, have brought a revolutionary change in the perception of Hindi among the youth. Among the five pledges he envisioned for a 'Developed India,' two--freedom from the mindset of slavery and pride in our cultural heritage--continue to inspire the Department of Official Language.' Expressing gratitude to the Home Minister, Chief Guest G. Kishan Reddy said he was thankful that Hyderabad was chosen for this event. He remarked, 'In these fifty years, the Department of Official Language has accomplished significant work. Promoting Hindi is the foremost duty of every Indian.' Guest of Honour Pawan Kalyan appealed for the use of Hindi on social media platforms. 'If we can learn foreign languages, why hesitate with Hindi? Hindi is easily understood across the country. I personally use Hindi on social media. On this Golden Jubilee of the Department, let us resolve to love Hindi, adopt it, and promote it,' said Kalyan. Recalling former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, he said, 'Language should connect hearts. Let us view Hindi from this perspective.' Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh said, 'Inspiration to promote Hindi came from those whose mother tongue was not Hindi. Today, the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Home Minister are furthering that tradition.' Professor Manikyamba said, 'Over my 55-year tenure, I have witnessed the flourishing of the Official Language. The Veena of the Official Language resonates with the collective tones of all languages.' Professor Anant Krishnan said, 'I am here representing Tamil Nadu and proudly say that a favourable environment for Hindi is taking shape there.' On this occasion, several Hindi publications from various institutions were released, including contributions from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), ONGC (MRPL), Central University of Tamil Nadu, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Union Bank of India, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Indian Bank, and the Central Hindi Institute, Hyderabad. It is noteworthy that the Department of Official Language completed 50 years on 26 June 2025. The first Golden Jubilee celebration was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where major departmental achievements were showcased through book releases. This symbolic event signified that the journey of the department had transcended policy frameworks and become entwined with national pride and consciousness. Bharat Mandapam--recently a venue for G20 global summits--has now emerged as an inspiring stage for the promotion of Hindi and Indian languages. Carrying this spirit forward, the second major event of the Golden Jubilee year, 'Dakshin Samvad,' was organised in Hyderabad on 11 July 2025, becoming a symbol of harmonious dialogue rooted in southern India's linguistic and historical diversity. This event affirms that the Golden Jubilee of the Department is no longer confined to Delhi but has evolved into a national celebration, with Hindi now playing the role of a unifying force for dialogue across the country. On this occasion, the winners of sports competitions held for officers of the Central Secretariat Official Language Service and subordinate offices under the Department in Delhi were also felicitated. In the post-lunch idea exchange session, Telugu scholar Professor Manikyamba, Professor Annapurna Charla, Kannada scholar T. R. Bhatt, and Tamil scholar Anant Krishnan shared their views on the harmony between Indian languages and Hindi. All speakers expressed a shared sentiment of love for Hindi and affirmed their commitment to adopting and promoting it as a path towards a more harmonious India. The concluding session featured a vibrant cultural program showcasing India's linguistic and cultural diversity, which captivated the audience. (ANI)