CLAT 2027 Current Affairs October 22 | AP Polls, PMLA, OBC Ruling, Core Industries, SAF Blending

1. Supreme Court Steps In on Andhra Pradesh Civic Polls

In the news: A Special Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana met during the Dasara break. The YSRCP said 63.5% of its candidates were "physically blocked" from filing nominations in the urban local body (ULB) elections.

The Court extended the date for publishing the final candidate list to October 25. It said, "The right to file nominations is a facet of free and fair elections." The State Election Commission (SEC) can extend the nomination date only in places where violence stopped candidates from filing. The Court also told the DGP to provide security and keep CCTV footage. The next hearing is on October 27.

Later, the SEC stopped the election process in all 100 ULBs. The polls were due on October 28.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Part IXA of the Constitution deals with Municipalities. It was added by the 74th Amendment, 1992.

• Article 243ZA: The State Election Commission controls municipal elections and electoral rolls.

• Article 243U: A Municipality has a five-year term.

• Article 329(b): Courts normally cannot interfere once the election process has started. This is why the Court's order, which only extends dates, is notable.

MCQs

Q1. Which Article gives the State Election Commission control over municipal elections?
 A. Article 243E
 B. Article 243K
 C. Article 243ZA
 D. Article 280

Answer: C

Q2. Till which date did the Supreme Court extend the publication of the final candidate list?
 A. October 22
 B. October 25
 C. October 27
 D. October 28

Answer: B

Q3. Which Amendment added Part IXA (Municipalities) to the Constitution?
 A. 42nd Amendment
 B. 73rd Amendment
 C. 74th Amendment
 D. 86th Amendment

Answer: C

2. Supreme Court: PMLA Is Not a "Super Administrator"

In the news: The Supreme Court stayed for seven days the police probe against former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and Mohamed Riyas. The case is the ₹2.78-crore CMRL-Exalogic payoff case. The Court did not cancel the FIR. It sent the case back to the Kerala High Court to hear the appeals.

The Kerala High Court's single judge had ordered the FIR on October 9. This was based on information the ED passed on under Section 66(2) of the PMLA. The State relied on Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary (2022). Justice Bagchi said States cannot treat judgments as statutes. He said Section 66(2) is only an "intimation", not a "mandate". The police must decide for themselves whether any law needs an FIR. He added that "The PMLA cannot be a 'Super Administrator'."

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Section 66(2), PMLA: The ED can share information about an offence with another agency.

• Section 17A, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: Prior approval is needed to investigate a public servant's official decisions.

• Natural justice: The petitioners said they were not heard before the FIR was ordered.

• Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary v. Union of India (2022): The key judgment on the ED's powers.

MCQs

Q1. What did the Supreme Court say Section 66(2) of the PMLA is?
 A. A binding order
 B. An intimation of information
 C. A power to arrest
 D. A power to attach property

Answer: B

Q2. Which 2022 judgment did the State rely on?
 A. Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India
 B. Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary v. Union of India
 C. Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India
 D. Rajesh Mihir Shah v. State of Maharashtra

Answer: B

Q3. Which section of the Prevention of Corruption Act requires prior approval to investigate a public servant?
 A. Section 7
 B. Section 13
 C. Section 17A
 D. Section 19

Answer: C

3. Supreme Court Ruling Opens Debate on OBC Status After Conversion

In the news: In its October 15 judgment, a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar held that an OBC Hindu loses reservation after converting to another religion. The Court said the "source of social backwardness" must be considered. For a Hindu OBC person, the right to reservation is linked to the Hindu social order.

This has started a debate. OBC classification has been religion-neutral since Indra Sawhney (1992). OBC certificates do not ask for the holder's religion. Critics say the ruling moves away from this approach.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992): Upheld 27% OBC reservation and set the 50% ceiling.

• Scheduled Castes: Always identified with a religion criterion.

• Scheduled Tribes: Religion has never been a criterion.

• Articles 15(4) and 16(4): Allow special provisions and reservation for backward classes.

MCQs

Q1. Which 1992 judgment guides OBC classification in India?
 A. Kesavananda Bharati
 B. Indra Sawhney
 C. Minerva Mills
 D. S.R. Bommai

Answer: B

Q2. Which category has always been identified using a religion criterion?
 A. Scheduled Castes
 B. Scheduled Tribes
 C. Other Backwards Classes
 D. Economically Weaker Sections

Answer: A

Q3. What did the Supreme Court say about an OBC Hindu who converts to another religion?
 A. Keeps reservation in all cases
 B. Loses entitlement to reservation
 C. Gets reservation as an ST
 D. Gets a higher quota

Answer: B

4. Core Industries Grow 7.9% in September

In the news: India's core industries grew 7.9% in September 2026. This is the highest since the new series began in April 2024. Growth was driven by coal (10.7%), refinery products (10.3%) and iron ore (18.4%). Electricity grew 11.4%, cement 9.8% and steel 4.9%.

Some sectors fell. Fertilisers shrank 11.7%, the seventh monthly fall in a row. Natural gas fell 4.6%, and crude oil fell 1.4%. Part of the coal growth came from a low base, since coal had fallen 1.1% in September 2025.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Eight core industries: Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.

• The index is released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

• Low base effect: Growth looks higher when the year-ago figure was weak.

• The core index is a key input for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

MCQs

Q1. What was the growth of core industries in September 2026?
 A. 3.1%
 B. 5.9%
 C. 7.9%
 D. 11.4%

Answer: C

Q2. Which core sector contracted 11.7% in September?
 A. Coal
 B. Fertilizers
 C. Cement
 D. Steel

Answer: B

Q3. Which sector recorded the highest growth among those listed?
 A. Electricity
 B. Coal
 C. Refinery products
 D. Iron ore

Answer: D

5. India to Mandate 1% SAF Blending From 2027

In the news: India is expected to make 1% blending of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandatory for international flights from 2027. The plan is 2% from 2028 and 5% from 2030. An official announcement is expected soon.

This is linked to CORSIA, the global scheme to cut emissions from international flights. Its mandatory phase starts in January 2027. Indian airlines may need to offset about 5 million tonnes of CO2 a year. This could cost $50-75 million. India has no national SAF policy yet. Indian Oil's Panipat refinery is preparing 30,000 tonnes of capacity using used cooking oil.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• CORSIA: Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. It was adopted by ICAO in 2016.

• Phases: Two voluntary phases (2021-2026) and a mandatory phase (2027-2035).

• SAF: Fuel made from non-petroleum sources, such as used cooking oil.

• The EU already requires 2% SAF from 2025, rising to 6% by 2030. The UK requires 2%, rising to 10% by 2030.

MCQs

Q1. What SAF blending is expected to be mandatory for Indian international flights in 2027?
 A. 1%
 B. 2%
 C. 5%
 D. 10%

Answer: A

Q2. Which body adopted CORSIA in 2016?
 A. IMO
 B. ICAO
 C. UNFCCC
 D. WTO

Answer: B

Q3. Which Indian refinery is preparing 30,000 tonnes of SAF capacity?
 A. Jamnagar
 B. Mathura
 C. Panipat
 D. Paradip

Answer: C

October 22, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

Candidates can revise these key facts for quick CLAT 2027 current affairs revision:

• AP civic polls: SC extended final list date to October 25; SEC stopped process in 100 ULBs

• Article 243ZA: State Election Commission and municipal elections; Part IXA from the 74th Amendment

• Pinarayi case: SC stayed probe for seven days; sent appeals back to Kerala HC

• PMLA Section 66(2): Only an "intimation", not a "mandate"

• Section 17A, PC Act: Prior approval to investigate a public servant

• OBC ruling: OBC Hindu loses reservation after conversion; Indra Sawhney (1992) is the background

• Core industries: 7.9% growth in September 2026, highest since April 2024

• Fertilisers: Down 11.7%, seventh fall in a row

• SAF blending: 1% in 2027, 2% in 2028, 5% in 2030 for international flights

• CORSIA: Adopted by ICAO in 2016; mandatory phase 2027-2035