CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - September 16, 2026 | SIR Voter Deletions, UPI MDR, Red Sea-Hormuz Blockades

1. Phase 3 of SIR sees higher voter deletions

In the news: The third phase of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has seen a higher rate of voter deletions than the first two phases. The exercise is being carried out in 19 States and Union Territories.

Of these, 17 have released their draft electoral rolls. The number of voters in these states and UTs fell from 36.1 crore before SIR to 29.9 crore after 6.15 crore names were deleted. This means that 17.1% of the names on the earlier rolls were removed.

The deletion rate was lower in the first two phases. Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have each reported deletions of 20% or more in the third phase. The Election Commission has not given a specific reason for the higher deletions. The report also noted that more names were marked as "Permanently Shifted" or "Untraceable/Absent", rather than "Deceased" or "Duplicate".

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Article 326: Provides for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage.

• Article 324: Gives the Election commission control over elections and the preparation of electoral rolls.

• SIR: A detailed exercise to check, update and revise electoral rolls.

• Representation of the People Act, 1950: Deals with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

• Right to vote: In India, the right to vote is a statutory right and is linked to registration in the electoral roll.

MCQs

Q1. Which Article gives the Election Commission control over the preparation of electoral rolls?

A) Article 280

B) Article 324

C) Article 356

D) Article 368

Answer: B

Q2. Universal adult suffrage for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies is provided under:

A) Article 19

B) Article 21

C) Article 326

D) Article 44

Answer: C

Q3. Phase 3 of SIR is being carried out in how many States/UTs?

A) 13

B) 17

C) 19

D) 22

Answer: C

2. UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to attract 0.4% merchant fee

In the news: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of 0.4% on most UPI payments above Rs 2,000 received by merchants. The new charges will come into effect from October 15.

The MDR will not apply to person-to-person payments. Transactions up to Rs 2,000 made to small vendors will also remain outside the new charge. Railways, telecom, insurance, fuel and agriculture input payments above Rs 2,000 will instead attract a flat MDR of Rs 5 per transaction.

The Finance Ministry has said that banks should ensure that merchants do not pass the charge on to customers. According to the ministry, around 4% of merchant transactions will be affected by the new structure.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• NPCI: The organisation that operates major retail payment systems in India, including UPI.

• UPI: A real-time payment system that allows money to be transferred between bank accounts.

• MDR: A fee charged to a merchant for processing a digital payment.

• P2P and P2M: P2P means person-to-person payments, while P2M means person-to-merchant payments.

• Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007: Provides the legal framework for regulating payment systems in India.

MCQs

Q1. What MDR has been introduced on most UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000?

A) 0.2%

B) 0.4%

C) 1%

D) 2%

Answer: B

Q2. The new MDR structure will come into effect from:

A) September 15

B) October 1

C) October 15

D) November 1

Answer: C

Q3. Which organisation introduced the new MDR structure for UPI payments?

A) RBI

B) SEBI

C) NPCI

D) Finance Ministry

Answer: C

3. RBI files caveat after rejecting Tata Sons' NBFC deregistration request

In the news: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected Tata Sons' application to give up its status as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). The decision could bring the company closer to a mandatory stock market listing.

After rejecting the application, the RBI filed a caveat in the Bombay High Court. A caveat is filed when a party wants to make sure that it gets an opportunity to be heard before the court passes an order in a case concerning it.

The caveat means that if Tata Sons approaches the court against the RBI's decision or seeks a stay, the RBI can ask to be heard before any order is passed.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

Caveat: A notice filed in court asking that the person or organisation filing it be heard before an order is passed.

NBFC: A company that provides financial services such as loans and investments but is not a full-service bank.

RBI: The central bank and regulator of India's banking and financial system.

Deregistration: Removal of an entity from a particular regulatory category or registration.

MCQs

Q1. What is the purpose of a caveat filed in court?

A) To give a final judgment

B) To ensure that the person filing it gets a chance to be heard

C) To start a criminal case

D) To appeal against a Supreme Court judgment

Answer: B

Q2. Tata Sons had sought deregistration as a:

A) Public limited company

B) NBFC

C) Cooperative society

D) Public trust

Answer: B

4. India expresses concern over attacks on ships in Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz

In the news: India has expressed concern over the security situation in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz after fresh attacks on ships. The Ministry of External Affairs said India was concerned about the blockades in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Strait of Hormuz.

The statement came after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and an incident involving a ship carrying Indian crew members off the Oman coast.

The Panamanian-flagged tanker MT El Gaia was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on September 13. It had 25 crew members, including 14 Indians and 11 Pakistanis. Most of the crew were rescued. The ship was reportedly in "dark mode", with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also discussed the situation with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait: Connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

• Strait of Hormuz: Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is an important oil route.

• AIS: Automatic Identification System used to track and identify ships.

• Freedom of navigation: Right of ships to pass through international waters and recognised sea routes.

• BRICS: The 2026 BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi under India's chairmanship.

MCQs

Q1. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with which of the following?

A) Gulf of Oman

B) Gulf of Aden

C) Persian Gulf

D) Arabian Sea

Answer: B

Q2. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the:

A) Gulf of Oman

B) Gulf of Aden

C) Red Sea

D) Bay of Bengal

Answer: A

Q3. What does AIS stand for in shipping?

A) Automatic Identification System

B) Advanced International Shipping

C) International Shipping System

D) Asian Information Service

Answer: A

5. Nepal floods damage hydropower projects in Himalayan region

In the news: Flash floods in Nepal on August 26 damaged several hydropower projects and other power infrastructure. At least 13 hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors were damaged. A solar power plant was also affected. Around 15 projects under construction, with a planned capacity of about 470 MW, were also impacted.

The damage is important for Nepal because hydropower accounts for more than 90% of the country's electricity generation. Nepal has a much larger hydropower potential, much of which is yet to be developed.

The floods have also brought attention to the risks faced by the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. ICIMOD has documented floods, landslides, glacier-related events and other hazards in the region. Scientists have also warned that the Himalayas could reach "peak water" by the middle of this century. It refers to the point after which glacier-fed river flows are expected to start declining.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Hindu Kush Himalaya: Mountain region spread across eight countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

• GLOF: Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, caused by the sudden release of water from a glacial lake.

• ICIMOD: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

• Peak water: The point when glacier-fed river flows reach their highest level before beginning to decline.

• UNDP: United Nations Development Programme, which works on development and disaster-related issues.

MCQs

Q1. Which river corridors were affected by the hydropower projects damaged in the floods of August 26th?

A) Koshi and Gandaki

B) Bhotekoshi and Trishuli

D) Annapurna and Rolwa

E) Mahi and Tamaulipas

Answer: B

Q2. What is 'peak water' in the context of glaciers in the Himalayas?

A) This is the wettest region of the Himalayas.

C) The point following which glacier-fed river flows cease to decrease.D) The point after which the flow of rivers does not decrease any more because of glaciers.

D) The entire melting of Himalayan glaciers

E) The lowest level of the ground water in the region

Answer: B

Q3. ICIMOD is primarily engaged in activities that fall under the region of which?

A) Western Ghats

B) Hindu Kush Himalaya

C) Deccan Plateau

D) Indo-Gangetic Plain

Answer: B

September 16 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

1. Article 324 - Election Commission's powers over elections and electoral rolls

2. Article 326 - Universal adult suffrage

3. SIR - Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls

4. Representation of the People Act, 1950 - Electoral roll-related law

5. NPCI - Operates UPI and other retail payment systems

6. MDR - Fee charged to merchants for payment processing

7. UPI - Real-time digital payment system

8. Caveat - Notice seeking an opportunity to be heard before a court order

9. NBFC - Non-Banking Financial Company

10. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait - Connects Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

11. Strait of Hormuz - Connects Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

12. AIS - Ship identification and tracking system

13. GLOF - Sudden release of water from a glacial lake

14. ICIMOD - Hindu Kush Himalaya regional organisation

15. Peak water - Point after which glacier-fed river flows begin to decline

CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs: September 16-21, 2026