Over half of voters missing from Bihar’s draft electoral roll are women, data reveals
More than half of the voters excluded from Bihar’s draft electoral roll following the Special Intensive Revision are women, according to an analysis of Election Commission of India data published on August 1. The figures show that 55% of those left out are women, with the highest exclusion rates seen in several districts that also have a significant Muslim population.
The draft list was compiled from enumeration forms submitted between June 24 and July 26. Individuals whose names do not appear will now be required to present proof of citizenship to be reinstated in the final list, scheduled for release on September 30. The Election Commission has said that nearly 65.6 lakh names were removed, citing reasons that include death (22.3 lakh), permanent relocation or prolonged absence (36.3 lakh), and duplication across multiple rolls (7 lakh) according to a data analysis report by The Hindu and Scroll.
Gopalganj district in western Bihar recorded the highest overall exclusion rate at 15.1%, with the Gopalganj assembly constituency alone registering an 18.25% reduction in its electoral roll, the steepest in the state. Across 43 of Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies, women account for 60% or more of those removed. In January 2025, women made up 47.7% of the state’s electorate; in the draft roll following the revision, this proportion has dropped to 47.2%.
Kaimur district recorded the largest percentage of women excluded from the draft roll at 64%, followed by Buxar at 63%. In Rajpur, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency in Kaimur, women represent 69% of those removed, while in Brahampur the figure stands at 63%. By contrast, in Barhara constituency in Bhojpur district, nearly three-quarters of those excluded are men.
Five of the ten districts with the highest percentage of excluded voters , Purnia, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Bhagalpur, and Sitamarhi, also have the largest share of Muslim residents in the state. Election Commission data indicates a correlation: the greater the Muslim population in a district, the higher the exclusion rate, whereas districts with larger Scheduled Caste populations tend to see lower exclusion rates.
Six constituencies in Gopalganj, Gopalganj, Kuchaikote, Barauli, Hathua, Baikunthpur and Bhorey , rank among the top 20 in the state for voter exclusions. Purnia district’s Purnia, Amour and Dhamdaha constituencies also feature prominently in the list of areas most affected.
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Journey of Viksit Bharat@2047 a 'maritime voyage': Navy chief
Ranchi (PTI): Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi on Friday equated Viksit Bharat @2047 to maritime voyage, emphasising that the world's economies, including India's, rely heavily on oceans for trade and growth.
Addressing students at the CCL's Darbhanga House conference hall, he said that 90 per cent of the world's EXIM trade occurs through the seas, and 95 per cent of India's trade volume is carried by sea routes, making the oceans the primary medium for achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.
"Viksit Bharat @2047 is no longer just a policy; it has now become a reality, and clear milestones have been set to achieve the target. As we know, 95 per cent of our trade occurs via sea routes, and around 90 per cent of the world's trade volume depends on them. We are geographically blessed as our country is surrounded by oceans on three sides, and it is our responsibility to keep them free from any deterrence," he said.
The Indian Navy is the first responder in the Indian Ocean region and is being recognised as such by the world today, Admiral Tripathi said.
"The blue economy currently contributes only 4 per cent to our economy, which is very small, and it should be augmented to double digits to align with the vision of Viksit Bharat," the Navy chief stressed.
Another important fact is that 88 per cent of our energy requirements come from seas, and if crude oil prices increase by USD one per metric tonne, India ends up paying an extra Rs 10,000 crore, he said, adding this is the kind of impact that makes maritime domain security so important.
He said, "When an earthquake struck Myanmar, we were the first to reach there with 500 tonne of relief material. Similarly in Sri Lanka, we had delivered 1,000 tonne of relief material."
The main role of the Indian Navy is warfighting, but deterrence comes first before reaching that point, Admiral Tripathi said.
He further said that even a small disruption in sea routes can have a massive impact.
The Navy chief underscored the critical importance of maritime security, warning that even minor disruptions in sea routes can have far-reaching economic and strategic consequences for India and the world.
Citing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, he said actions by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea severely disrupted global cargo movement, forcing shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal, Asia's shortest route to Europe, and resulting in a nearly 700 per cent rise in shipping costs on some alternative routes.
The Navy chief also pointed out that modern digital life depends heavily on secure seas, noting that nearly 99 per cent of global internet data travels through undersea fibre-optic cables.
"If oceans are central to India's development, then the responsibility of keeping them open, safe, and secure lies with the Indian Navy," he said.
Urging students to focus on skill development, character, civic sense, and lifelong learning, he cited World Economic Forum projections that skills will matter more than degrees in the future.
He emphasised that Viksit Bharat @2047, which targets USD 30 trillion economy can only be achieved through collective effort and people's participation.
"The vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 has many milestones apart from an economy of USD 30 trillion. It includes the goals of 100 per cent literacy, access to universal healthcare facilities, quality education for all, leadership in the field of innovation, and complete self-reliance," he said.
Admiral Tripathi said security and development go hand in hand, describing India's journey as one from dependence to confidence and from imports to innovation.
On operational matters, he said the Navy's primary role is deterrence and added that Operation Sindoor is continuing.
He added that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber warfare have already been integrated into naval operations, given the technology-intensive nature of modern maritime warfare.
