CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - September 24, 2026 | CEC Row, India-EU FTA, SAT-SAAW, Super El Niño

1. Opposition seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal

In the news: Opposition parties have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over decisions taken in the name of the Election Commission. The Election Commission has said that differences during deliberations are normal and that its decisions and orders were taken according to law.

The issue has also come up before the Supreme Court in the challenge to the 2023 law governing the appointment of the CEC and Election Commissioners. Justice Dipankar Datta, in a separate opinion, questioned the replacement of the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister on the selection panel and said the arrangement raises concerns about the independence of the poll panel.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• Article 324: Gives the Election Commission superintendence, direction and control over elections.

• CEC and EC Appointment Act, 2023: Provides the present legal framework for appointing the CEC and Election Commissioners.

• Selection panel: Under the 2023 law, it consists of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

• Anoop Baranwal judgment: The Supreme Court had earlier provided for a panel comprising the PM, LoP and CJI until Parliament made a law on appointments.

• Perception test: The idea that an institution must not only be independent but should also be seen as independent.

MCQs

Q1: Which constitutional provision deals with the Election Commission's powers?

A. Article 320

B. Article 324

C. Article 356

D. Article 368

Answer: B

Q2: Who replaced the CJI on the selection panel under the 2023 law?

A. Attorney General

B. Union Cabinet Minister

C. Cabinet Secretary

D. Chief Election Commissioner

Answer: B

Q3: Which judgment had earlier included the CJI in the selection panel?

A. Anoop Baranwal

B. Kesavananda Bharati

C. S.R. Bommai

D. Minerva Mills

Answer: A

2. Justice Dipankar Datta defends Collegium, flags selective approvals

In the news: Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta has defended the Collegium system against the argument that it amounts to "judges appointing judges". He said the process involves consultation with the Executive, intelligence agencies and other authorities before an appointment is formally made by the President.

Justice Datta also questioned the Centre's selective approval of Collegium recommendations. He said some names recommended by the Collegium have remained pending for long periods, while some recommendations are approved. His observations came in a separate opinion in the case challenging the 2023 law on the appointment of Election Commissioners.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• Collegium system: Mechanism used for recommending the appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and High Court judges.

• Three Judges Cases: A series of Supreme Court judgments through which the present Collegium system evolved.

• Third Judges Case (1998): Clarified and strengthened the Collegium system.

• Judicial independence: Considered part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

• President's role: Judges are formally appointed by the President, based on the constitutional appointment process.

MCQs

Q1: Which case formally clarified the Collegium system?

A. Kesavananda Bharati

B. Third Judges Case

C. Golaknath

D. Minerva Mills

Answer: B

Q2: Justice Datta's remarks on the Collegium came in a case concerning:

A. Uniform Civil Code

B. Appointment of CEC and Election Commissioners

C. Right to Privacy

D. National Judicial Appointments Commission

Answer: B

Q3: Judicial independence is recognised as part of the:

A. Doctrine of Severability

B. Basic Structure Doctrine

C. Doctrine of Pith and Substance

D. Doctrine of Colourable Legislation

Answer: B

3. India-EU trade deal to be signed on December 16

In the news: The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union will be signed on December 16, two diplomatic sources confirmed to The Hindu, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's back-to-back December trips to Canada, the U.S. and Belgium.

Negotiations, dubbed the "mother of all deals," restarted in June 2022 and concluded in January 2026; the EU will drop tariffs on 99.5% of items India exports, while India has given tariff concessions on 97.5% of the traded value.

The deal has "majority support" in Europe and will not require separate ratification by each EU country once the European Council approves it, with the next step being passage in the European Parliament, paving the way for a rollout in "early 2027."

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA): An agreement between countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods and services.

• European Council: EU institution comprising heads of state/government that sets the Union's political direction and priorities.

• European Parliament: The EU's directly elected legislative body, whose approval is a step in ratifying trade agreements.

• Tariff concession: Reduction or elimination of import duties as part of trade negotiations.

• India's simultaneous FTA negotiations: India was concurrently negotiating separate trade deals with Canada and the U.S., alongside the EU FTA.

MCQs

Q1: On what date is the India-EU FTA scheduled to be signed?

A. November 16, 2026

B. December 16, 2026

C. January 16, 2027

D. February 16, 2027

Answer: B

Q2: What percentage of Indian export items will see the EU drop tariffs under the FTA?

A. 90%

B. 95%

C. 97.5%

D. 99.5%

Answer: D

Q3: Which EU institution's approval means the FTA will not require separate ratification by each EU member country?

A. European Commission

B. European Council

C. European Central Bank

D. Council of Europe

Answer: B

4. MoD Signs ₹811 Crore Deal to Buy 160 Glide Bombs for IAF

In the news: The Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 160 Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) for the Indian Air Force. The Rs 810.79 crore contract was signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited on September 23.

The weapon is a precision-guided glide bomb that can be released from a stand-off distance and used against enemy airfields. The contract has been placed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which is meant for defence equipment designed, developed and manufactured in India.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• SAT-SAAW: A precision-guided air-to-ground weapon developed to hit targets such as enemy airfields.

• Buy (Indian-IDDM): A defence procurement category for equipment that is designed, developed and manufactured in India, subject to the prescribed indigenous content requirements.

• Bharat Dynamics Limited: A defence public sector undertaking that manufactures guided weapon systems and other defence equipment.

• Stand-off weapon: A weapon that can be fired or released from a distance, allowing the aircraft to strike a target without entering the effective range of enemy air defence systems.

• Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence: A government initiative aimed at increasing domestic defence production and reducing dependence on imported military equipment.

• Defence Secretary: The senior-most bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence who handles policy and administrative matters related to defence.

MCQs

Q1: What is the value of the contract signed between the MoD and Bharat Dynamics Limited for glide bombs?

A. ₹610.79 crore

B. ₹710.79 crore

C. ₹810.79 crore

D. ₹910.79 crore

Answer: C

Q2: How many Satellite Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAT-SAAW) were contracted for the IAF?

A. 100

B. 130

C. 160

D. 200

Answer: C

Q3: Under which procurement category was the SAT-SAAW contract signed?

A. Buy (Global)

B. Buy (Indian-IDDM)

C. Buy and Make

D. Strategic Partnership Model

Answer: B

5. Super El Niño to Add 15,800 Heat Deaths in India: Report

In the news: India could record around 15,800 additional heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027, according to a Climate Impact Lab report released on Wednesday. The estimate carries an uncertainty of about 1,600 deaths.

The report expects around 4.51 lakh additional heat-related deaths worldwide during the first six months of the El Niño event. About 2.39 lakh of these are projected for the September 2026 to February 2027 period. Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Brazil and the Sahel region are among the areas expected to face a high impact.

The report calls the current event a "Super El Niño", an informal term for unusually strong El Niño conditions. India's southwest monsoon rainfall was around 15% below normal as of September 22. Nearly 40% of India's coal-fired power plants were also reported to have critically low fuel stocks as electricity demand increased.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• El Niño: A periodic warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that can alter weather patterns across different parts of the world.

• Super El Niño: A non-scientific term generally used for an exceptionally strong El Niño event.

• Heat-related mortality: Deaths associated with unusually high temperatures and prolonged heat exposure.

• Climate Impact Lab: Research initiative that studies the economic and health effects of climate change and produced the report cited here.

• Climate adaptation: Steps such as heat-warning systems, cooling centres, better urban planning and public-health measures to reduce the impact of extreme heat.

MCQs

Q1: According to the Climate Impact Lab report, how many additional heat-related deaths could India see between September 2026 and February 2027?

A. About 10,800

B. About 15,800

C. About 25,800

D. About 45,100

Answer: B

Q2: What term does the report use to describe the current El Niño event?

A. Mega El Niño

B. Super El Niño

C. Hyper El Niño

D. Extreme El Niño

Answer: B

Q3: What was India's national rainfall deficit as of September 22, 2026, according to the report?

A. About 5% below normal

B. About 10% below normal

C. About 15% below normal

D. About 25% below normal

Answer: C

September 24, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

1. CEC row: Opposition seeks removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

2. Collegium: Justice Dipankar Datta defended the Collegium system.

3. India-EU FTA: Trade deal set to be signed on December 16, 2026.

4. SAT-SAAW: MoD signed a Rs 810.79 crore deal for 160 weapons for the IAF.

5. Buy (Indian-IDDM): SAT-SAAW contract falls under this indigenous defence procurement category.

6. Super El Niño: India could see 15,800 additional heat-related deaths from September 2026 to February 2027.

7. Monsoon: Southwest monsoon rainfall was around 15% below normal as of September 22.

CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs: September 23, 2026 - September 30, 2026