CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs (26-27 September 2026) | CEC Row, POCSO Ruling, UPI MDR

1. Congress Protests Seek CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Exit; EC Announces SIR Changes

In the news: On Friday (25 September), the Congress led nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests followed a report that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months. A Supreme Court petition sought a judicial inquiry commission or SIT headed by a retired SC judge. On Saturday, after a full commission meeting, the EC stopped physical hearings for unmapped voters and made the Form 6 declaration mandatory only during the current SIR.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Article 324: Vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission of India.

• Article 324(5): The CEC can be removed only in like manner and on like grounds as a Supreme Court judge.

• Section 16, CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023: Protects a CEC/EC from civil or criminal proceedings for official acts; it does not use the words "arrest" or "investigation".

• Section 18, 2023 Act: The EC decides unanimously or by majority opinion; the CEC has no special veto.

• Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023): Constitution Bench ruling on EC appointments; the 2023 Act that followed is under challenge.

• Form 6: Used for fresh voter registration; it is attached to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

MCQs

Q1. Under which provision can the CEC be removed like a Supreme Court judge?
A. Article 324(1)
B. Article 324(5)
C. Article 324(2)
D. Section 16 of the 2023 Act

Answer: B

Q2. Which form is used for fresh voter registration?
A. Form 6
B. Form 7
C. Form 8
D. Form 1

Answer: A

Q3. As per Section 18 of the 2023 Act, if Election Commissioners differ, the matter is decided by:

A. The CEC's veto
B. The President
C. The CEC's casting vote
D. The majority opinion

Answer: D

2. Delhi HC: Marriage Under Personal Law Is No Shield Against POCSO

In the news: Justice Sanjeev Narula of the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition to quash an FIR for rape under the BNS and the POCSO Act. The woman was 16 years and three months old when she married the petitioner, then nearly 28, on 20 December 2024. The court held that personal law may decide whether a marriage was contracted but cannot create an exception to a criminal law where Parliament has provided none. The POCSO Act fixes 18 as the age below which consent has no legal efficacy.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• POCSO Act: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act; consent below 18 has no legal efficacy under it.

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): The penal law under which the rape charge was registered.

• Muslim personal law: The petitioners argued a girl who has attained puberty can marry; the court rejected this as a defence.

• Quashing of FIR: The petitioner asked the court to cancel the FIR; the High Court dismissed the petition.

• Secular penal statute: A criminal law that applies independently of personal law.

MCQs

Q1. Which judge delivered the judgment?
A. Justice Dipankar Datta
B. Justice Amit Mahajan
C. Justice Sanjeev Narula
D. Justice Girish Kathpalia

Answer: C

Q2. Under POCSO, consent to sexual activity has no legal efficacy below which age?
A. 18
B. 16
C. 17
D. 15

Answer: A

Q3. The court held that personal law cannot:
A. Decide whether a marriage was contracted
B. Create an exception to a criminal law where Parliament has provided none
C. Affect maintenance rights
D. Affect legitimacy

Answer: B

3. UPI MDR to Go Live on 15 October; Govt to Talk to IBA on Subsidy

In the news: Finance Ministry sources said the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI will go live on 15 October, with no proposal to delay it. The MDR collected will not cover the full cost of UPI, so the government will discuss with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) how much subsidy should continue. The government has budgeted ₹2,000 crore this year for the RuPay debit card and low-value BHIM-UPI incentive scheme. GST on MDR is for the GST Council to decide, and its 7 October meeting will deal with process reforms, not rates.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR): The charge for providing UPI service to merchants.

• Indian Banks' Association (IBA): Body the Ministry will consult on subsidy and on stopping merchants from passing MDR to customers.

• GST Council: Decides the GST rate and exemption on MDR; the Centre cannot act unilaterally.

• UPI as a service: Officials said UPI is a service and is therefore taxed under GST.

• RuPay/BHIM-UPI incentive scheme: Government scheme with a ₹2,000 crore budget this year.

• Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT): Traders' body the Ministry will speak to about the MDR charge.

MCQs

Q1. From which date will MDR go live on UPI?
A. 7 October
B. 30 October
C. 15 October
D. 4 December

Answer: C

Q2. Who decides the GST rate on MDR?

A. GST Council
B. Finance Ministry alone
C. IBA
D. CAIT

Answer: A

Q3. How much has been budgeted this year for the RuPay/BHIM-UPI incentive scheme?

A. ₹200 crore
B. ₹20,000 crore
C. ₹2,000 crore
D. ₹57,000 crore

Answer: C

4. Jaishankar at UNGA: India Will Exercise Right to Defend Against Terrorism

In the news: On Saturday (26 September), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered India's National Statement at the UN General Assembly. He said India will exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism and that there can be no dilution of the zero-tolerance approach. He was responding to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's speech a day earlier. He also spoke on the impact of conflicts on the Global South and called for reformed multilateralism.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• UNGA: Jaishankar spoke on the fifth day of the General Assembly session.

• Right of Reply: India used it on Friday night, through First Secretary Petal Gahlot, to respond to Pakistan's PM.

• Operation Sindoor: Launched on 7 May 2025 after the Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025, which killed 26 civilians.

• Indus Waters Treaty: Held in abeyance by India; Pakistan says India is "weaponising water".

• Four Fs: Food, Fuel, Fertilizers and Finance, the areas where distant countries are hit by conflicts.

• Reformed multilateralism: Jaishankar's pitch, a reference to expanding the UN Security Council.

MCQs

Q1. Operation Sindoor was launched on:

A. 22 April 2025
B. 26 September 2026
C. 4 January 2003
D. 7 May 2025

Answer: D

Q2. What are the "Four Fs" mentioned by Jaishankar?

A. Food, Fuel, Fertilizers and Finance
B. Force, Finance, Food, Freedom
C. Fuel, Fertilizers, Forests, Fisheries
D. Food, Fibre, Fuel, Freight

Answer: A

Q3. Who exercised India's Right of Reply on Friday night?

A. S. Jaishankar
B. Shehbaz Sharif
C. Petal Gahlot
D. Om Birla

Answer: C

5. Karnataka Rejects Kasturirangan Report; Keralam Seeks Smaller ESA

In the news: On 22 September, the Karnataka Legislature unanimously rejected the Kasturirangan report in its current form. This was in response to the seventh draft, published on 27 July, to declare parts of the Western Ghats an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The Legislature sought one year for a physical survey. Separately, Keralam asked the Centre to limit its ESA to forest areas covering 8,590.69 sq. km and seeks a final notification, as all notifications from 2014 to July 2026 were drafts.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA): Area where certain activities are banned or regulated to protect the Western Ghats.

• Kasturirangan Committee (HLWG): Set up in 2012; recommended declaring 59,940 sq. km as ESA out of 1.64 lakh sq. km.

• Gadgil Committee (WGEEP): Submitted its report in 2011 and designated the entire Western Ghats as ESA.

• EIA Notification, 2006: Projects within 10 km of the ESA needing environmental clearance would be regulated under it.

• Draft vs final notification: Keralam wants a final notification as all so far have been drafts.

• Banned activities: Mining, quarrying, sand extraction, red-category industries and thermal power plants.

MCQs

Q1. Who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel?
A. K. Kasturirangan
B. Madhav Gadgil
C. Sunny Joseph
D. Eshwar Khandre

Answer: B

Q2. How much time did the Karnataka Legislature seek for a physical survey?

A. 60 days
B. Six months
C. Three years
D. One year

Answer: D

Q3. Which activity is banned under the Kasturirangan report?
A. Agriculture
B. Mining
C. House renovation
D. Rainwater harvesting

Answer: B

26-27 September 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

Here are the topics from today's CLAT 2027 current affairs that candidates should revise:

• Article 324 - Superintendence, direction and control of elections

• Article 324(5) - CEC removal like a Supreme Court judge

• Section 16, 2023 Act - Protection for official acts

• Section 18, 2023 Act - Unanimity or majority decisions

• Form 6 - Fresh voter registration

• POCSO Act - Consent below 18 has no legal efficacy

• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) - UPI charge from 15 October

• Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) - Western Ghats protection

CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs: 28 September - 3 October 2026