CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - September 25, 2026 | CEC Resignation Row, Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law,

1. Rahul Gandhi Demands CEC's Resignation; SC Asks EC to Set Timeline for TMC Dispute

In the news: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has again accused the Election Commission of involvement in "vote chori" and called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

This followed an Indian Express report on the ECI and the SIR controversy that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to certain decisions of the poll panel.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, asked the Election Commission to give the rival factions in the Trinamool Congress dispute reasonable time to present their evidence and complete the proceedings within a reasonable timeframe. The case relates to the dispute over the party's name and election symbol

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

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

• Election Symbols Order, 1968: Deals with the allotment and freezing of election symbols during party disputes.

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

• Section 31, Representation of the People Act, 1950: Penalises false statements made in applications for electoral rolls.

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): The electoral roll revision exercise at the centre of the current "vote chori" controversy.

Q1: Which Article deals with the powers of the Election Commission?

A. Article 320

B. Article 324

C. Article 356

D. Article 368

Answer: B

Q2: Which order governs the allotment of election symbols?

A. Representation of the People Act, 1951

B. Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968

C. Model Code of Conduct

D. Political Parties Registration Act

Answer: B

Q3: Which process is at the centre of the current "vote chori" controversy?

A. Electoral Bond Scheme

B. Special Intensive Revision

C. Delimitation

D. Postal Ballot Revision

Answer: B

2. SC Restricts Stay of Allahabad HC Order Against Gautam Buddh Nagar DM to Strictures Only

In the news: The Supreme Court on Thursday restricted its September 23 interim order staying the Allahabad High Court's strictures and cost award against Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam, clarifying that only the "strictures against the petitioner" and "award of costs" remain stayed, not the entire "operation of the judgment."

The case concerns the detention of Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA) over an April 2026 Noida workers' protest; the Allahabad HC had earlier quashed her nearly five-month detention as illegal and ordered ₹5 lakh compensation.

An advocates' group issued an open letter to the CJI alleging "out-of-turn listing" and "special assignment" of the case to a "particular Bench," noting the petitioner is the daughter of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• National Security Act (NSA), 1980: Allows preventive detention of a person to prevent them from acting in a manner prejudicial to national security.

• Habeas corpus: A writ requiring a detained person to be brought before a court to determine the legality of their detention.

• Preventive detention safeguards: Article 22 of the Constitution provides procedural safeguards against arbitrary preventive detention.

• Writ jurisdiction: Powers of High Courts (Article 226) and the Supreme Court (Article 32) to issue writs, including habeas corpus for enforcement of fundamental rights.

• Judicial transparency: The open letter's allegations of "out-of-turn listing" relate to concerns about case allocation and bench assignment procedures.

Q1: Under which law was DU student Akriti Chaudhary detained for nearly five months?

A. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
B. National Security Act (NSA), 1980
C. Public Safety Act
D. Prevention of Money Laundering Act

Answer: B

Q2: Which writ is used to challenge the legality of a person's detention?

A. Mandamus
B. Certiorari
C. Habeas corpus
D. Quo warranto

Answer: C

Q3: Which Article of the Constitution provides procedural safeguards against arbitrary preventive detention?

A. Article 19
B. Article 21
C. Article 22
D. Article 32

Answer: C

3. Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law Takes Effect; Churches Put Up Warning Boards

In the news: Churches in Dhamtari district have put up notices restricting entry for non-Christians, with some boards saying that those who enter voluntarily do so "at their own risk". The move has been described as a precaution after the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 came into effect.

The law requires a person planning to change religion to inform the district administration 60 days in advance. The new provisions have drawn objections from Christian groups, who have raised concerns over their impact on religious gatherings.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• Article 25: Guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion.

• Article 26: Gives religious denominations the right to manage their religious affairs.

• Anti-conversion laws: State laws that regulate religious conversion, including conversions involving force, fraud or inducement.

• Rev. Stainislaus case, 1977: The Supreme Court held that the right to propagate religion does not include a right to convert another person by force, fraud or inducement.

• Freedom of religion: The rights under Articles 25 and 26 are subject to restrictions such as public order, morality and health.

Q1: Which Articles of the Constitution guarantee freedom of religion in India?

A. Articles 19 and 21
B. Articles 25 and 26
C. Articles 29 and 30
D. Articles 14 and 15

Answer: B

Q2: How many days' advance notice does the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 require before a person changes their religion?

A. 30 days
B. 45 days
C. 60 days
D. 90 days

Answer: C

Q3: Which landmark case held that the right to propagate religion under Article 25 does not include a right to convert another person by force, fraud, or inducement?

A. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
B. Rev. Stainislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh
C. Shah Bano case
D. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India

Answer: B

4. China, U.S. Must Steer Clear of Conflict: Xi Tells Trump at White House

In the news: Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday that Beijing and Washington must peacefully manage their superpower rivalry, as Trump gave him a lavish White House welcome.

Xi used the visit to lay down China's "red lines" on AI, called for "prudence" on Taiwan, and sought an end to the Iran war, saying the development of artificial intelligence should be "always under human control", contrasting with Trump, who has dismissed AI-threat warnings.

Xi also urged Trump to end the Iran war "through negotiation," said Chinese and American interests were "deeply intertwined," and announced China would invite 1,00,000 U.S. youth for studies and exchanges over the next five years, along with sending two pandas to a zoo in Atlanta.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• One-China policy: China's position that Taiwan is part of China, a core issue on which Beijing seeks "prudence" from other nations, including the U.S.

• Panda diplomacy: China's practice of gifting or loaning giant pandas to foreign countries as a gesture of goodwill in diplomatic relations.

• Superpower rivalry management: Refers to structured diplomatic engagement aimed at preventing escalation between major powers without necessarily resolving underlying competition.

• AI governance debate: An emerging area of international discourse on regulating artificial intelligence development, referenced here in the context of US-China dialogue.

• Strategic ambiguity vs. red lines: Diplomatic terms describing how countries signal firm positions (red lines) versus deliberately vague policy stances in international relations.

Q1: What core issue did Xi Jinping urge Trump to show "prudence" on during the White House meeting?

A. South China Sea disputes
B. Taiwan
C. Hong Kong
D. Tibet

Answer: B

Q2: What diplomatic gesture did Xi Jinping announce involving animals during his U.S. visit?

A. Sending elephants to a U.S. zoo
B. Sending two pandas to a zoo in Atlanta
C. Sending tigers to Washington D.C.
D. Sending dolphins to Florida

Answer: B

Q3: How many U.S. youth did China announce it would invite for studies and exchanges over the next five years?

A. 50,000
B. 75,000
C. 1,00,000
D. 1,50,000

Answer: C

5. India Explores Alternatives to SWIFT as India-EU Trade Deal Signing Confirmed for December 16

In the news: Following the BRICS Summit's New Delhi Declaration resolving to increase trade in national currencies among member-countries, India is exploring alternatives to the Belgium-based SWIFT payment system, including China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), Russia's System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), and the now-discontinued Project mBridge.

Russia and India have built a functioning payments infrastructure using roubles and rupees for 96% of bilateral trade, with 22 Russian banks and 17 Indian banks currently servicing this trade.

Separately, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, dubbed the "mother of all deals," will be signed on December 16 as part of PM Modi's December trips to Canada, the U.S. and Belgium, with the EU set to drop tariffs on 99.5% of Indian export items and India offering concessions on 97.5% of traded value.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know:

• SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication): The Belgium-based global messaging network used for international interbank financial transactions.

• CIPS (Cross-Border Interbank Payment System): China's alternative payment system launched in 2015 to internationalise the yuan for cross-border transactions.

• BRICS New Delhi Declaration: Outcome document of the 18th BRICS Summit (September 2026) held in New Delhi, resolving to boost trade in national currencies among member countries.

• De-dollarisation: The broader global trend of countries reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar and Western-controlled financial infrastructure for trade settlements.

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

Q1: What does SWIFT stand for in the context of international payments?

A. Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
B. System for Worldwide International Finance Transfer
C. Secure Worldwide Interbank Fund Transfer
D. Society for Western International Financial Trade

Answer: A

Q2: Which country's payment system is CIPS (Cross-Border Interbank Payment System) associated with?

A. Russia
B. China
C. Iran
D. Saudi Arabia

Answer: B

Q3: On what date is the India-EU Free Trade Agreement scheduled to be signed?

A. November 16, 2026
B. December 16, 2026
C. January 16, 2027
D. December 26, 2026

Answer: B

September 25, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

• Article 324: Election Commission's powers over elections; Election Symbols Order, 1968 deals with party symbol disputes.

• CEC Appointment Act, 2023: Governs the appointment of the CEC and Election Commissioners.

• SIR: Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

• NSA, 1980: Preventive detention law; Habeas corpus can be used to challenge illegal detention.

• Articles 25 and 26: Freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage religious affairs.

• Rev. Stainislaus case: Right to propagate religion does not include conversion by force, fraud or inducement.

• One-China policy and Panda diplomacy: Key terms from the Xi-Trump meeting.

• SWIFT, CIPS and FTA: SWIFT is the global banking messaging network; CIPS is China's cross-border payment system; India-EU FTA is scheduled to be signed on December 16, 2026.

CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs: September 24, 2026 - October 1, 2026