Record-Breaking Marriage Registrations in Bengal During SIR Drive; Highest Number Among Muslim Couples

Kolkata: Amid the political and administrative churn surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the state witnessed a record surge in marriage registrations in 2025. Officials attribute the unprecedented spike largely to documentation requirements linked to the voter list revision process.

According to data compiled by the Directorate of Registration and Stamp Revenue, 1,83,733 marriages were registered in 2025, the highest ever recorded in the state. This figure surpasses the previous peak of 1,81,923 registrations in 2022 and marks an increase of 12,335 registrations compared to 2024.

SIR Drive Triggers Documentation Rush

The Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls triggered widespread scrutiny of documentation, as citizens sought to ensure their names remained on the electoral list. With reports of lakhs of names being removed from voter rolls, many couples opted to formally register their marriages to avoid potential discrepancies related to surname or address changes, particularly for women voters.

While marriage certificates are not among the 14 officially listed documents for SIR verification, officials confirmed that such certificates were accepted during hearings to substantiate changes in surname or residence details.

The SIR exercise also sparked political debate and legal challenges, with the matter reaching the Supreme Court.

Surge in Registrations Under Special Marriage Act

A notable rise was observed under Special Marriage Act, particularly Section 16, which allows couples to register marriages after solemnization under personal laws.

In 2025, 10,969 marriages were registered under Section 16, of which 7,154 were Muslim couples who had solemnized their unions under Islamic law and later opted for official registration. This marks the highest recorded figure for Muslim marriage registrations in this category.

For comparison:

• In 2022, over 13,000 marriages were registered under Section 16, including 6,989 Muslim couples.
• The earlier surge was attributed to delays caused by COVID-19 protocols, which had prevented in-person registrations.

Officials say the 2025 spike, however, is primarily linked to the SIR documentation requirements rather than pandemic-related backlog.

Standard Registrations Also Cross One Lakh

Registrations under Section 13 of the Special Marriage Act — where marriages are registered on the day of solemnization — also crossed a historic milestone in 2025.

A total of 1,04,242 marriages were registered under this provision, surpassing the previous high of 99,715 in 2022. Authorities credit this rise to relaxed norms for non-resident partners and the introduction of a more interactive, user-friendly online marriage registration portal.

Political Undercurrents and Social Impact

The sharp rise in marriage registrations underscores how administrative exercises like voter list revisions can influence personal legal documentation trends. While officials describe the trend as a reflection of growing awareness and compliance, political observers note that concerns over citizenship documentation and electoral eligibility played a significant role.

As West Bengal continues to navigate the aftereffects of the SIR drive, the data reveals an unexpected byproduct: a historic formalization of marriages across communities, with Muslim couples leading the registration surge.