CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - September 28, 2026 | Right to Vote, Form 26 Ruling, TN RTI Order

1. Should the Right to Vote Be a Fundamental Right? EC Rift Revives Debate

In the news: An Indian Express report on 23 September said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded 14 objections over 10 months against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. It also said 97 eligible Goa voters were dropped from the rolls because the ECINet software stopped EROs from reversing deletions. On Sunday, over 2,000 citizens signed an open letter asking CJI Surya Kant to start suo motu proceedings on the EC's conduct in the SIR. An explainer says the right to vote remains a statutory right, not a fundamental one.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Article 326: Gives every adult citizen the right to vote, regardless of gender, caste, religion, education or property.

• Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006): A Constitution Bench held that the right to elect is a statutory right under Section 62 of the RPA, 1951, not a fundamental right.

• Rajbala v. State of Haryana (2015): A two-judge Bench called the right to vote a constitutional right, but the larger Bench ruling in Kuldip Nayar prevails.

• Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023): The court declined to decide the issue; Justice Ajay Rastogi, in dissent, linked the right to vote to Articles 19(1)(a) and 21.

• Section 21, RPA 1950: Empowers the EC to prepare and revise electoral rolls.

• Section 19, RPA 1950: A citizen aged 18 or above who is "ordinarily resident" in a constituency and not disqualified is entitled to be registered.

MCQs

Q1. Which case held the right to elect to be a statutory right under Section 62 of the RPA, 1951?
A. Rajbala v. State of Haryana
B. Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India
C. Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India
D. Lakshmi Charan Sen v. A.K.M. Hassan Uzzaman
Answer: B

Q2. Which Article grants every adult citizen the right to vote?
A. Article 324
B. Article 325
C. Article 19(1)(a)
D. Article 326
Answer: D

Q3. Justice Ajay Rastogi's dissent linked the right to vote to:
A. Articles 19(1)(a) and 21
B. Articles 14 and 15
C. Article 329(b)
D. Article 32
Answer: A

2. SC Dismisses Natarajan's Plea; Form 26 and Article 329(b) Under Scrutiny

In the news: On 12 June, the Supreme Court dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's petition against the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh. The Returning Officer held that she had not disclosed a pending criminal complaint in her Form 26 affidavit. The court relied on N.P. Ponnuswami v. Returning Officer (1952). She has liberty to file an election petition under Section 100 of the RPA. An opinion article says the 2018 change to Form 26 goes beyond Section 33-A.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Section 33-A, RPA 1951: Inserted in 2002; requires disclosure of cases involving offences punishable with two years or more in which charges have been framed.

• Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reforms (2002): Held that mandatory disclosure advances the voter's right to make an informed choice.

• Form 26: The affidavit that accompanies every nomination paper, prescribed under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

• Rule 4A: A procedural mechanism for implementing Section 33-A; it cannot become an independent source of substantive obligations.

• Article 329(b): Bars judicial intervention in electoral disputes once the election process has begun; an election petition is the exclusive post-election remedy.

• Articles 32 and 226: Constitutional remedies whose availability during elections is questioned in the article.

MCQs

Q1. Which Article bars judicial intervention once the election process has commenced?
A. Article 32
B. Article 329(b)
C. Article 226
D. Article 324
Answer: B

Q2. Under which provision can Ms. Natarajan file an election petition?
A. Section 33-A of the RPA
B. Rule 4A of the Conduct of Election Rules
C. Section 100 of the RPA
D. Section 62 of the RPA
Answer: C

Q3. Section 33-A was inserted into the RPA in:
A. 1961
B. 2002
C. 2018
D. 2023
Answer: B

3. Tamil Nadu Withdraws G.O. Exempting Public (Law and Order) Dept. from RTI Act

In the news: On Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government withdrew a Government Order dated 21 September 2026 that exempted the Public (Law and Order) Department from the RTI Act, 2005. The order was issued under Section 24(4) of the Act on the ground that the department is an intelligence and security organisation. Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar announced the withdrawal on X after severe backlash from parties and activists. Earlier that day he had defended the order.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• RTI Act, 2005: The law under which citizens seek information from public authorities.

• Section 24(4), RTI Act: The provision under which the withdrawn G.O. was issued.

• Government Order (G.O.): An executive order, here notified in the Government Gazette.

• COFEPOSA and NSA detentions: Subjects handled by the department, including detenus' representations.

• Habeas corpus petitions: Petitions filed by or for detenus in the High Court and the Supreme Court, handled by the department.

• NHRC references: Matters relating to the law and order wing that the department deals with.

MCQs

Q1. Under which section of the RTI Act was the withdrawn G.O. issued?
A. Section 8
B. Section 24(4)
C. Section 4
D. Section 19
Answer: B

Q2. On what ground was the department exempted from the RTI Act?
A. That it was an intelligence and security organisation
B. That it was a judicial body
C. That it was a local body
D. That it was a private agency
Answer: A

Q3. Which department issued the G.O.?
A. Public (Law and Order) Department
B. Home Department
C. Human Resources Management Department
D. Law Department
Answer: C

4. Foreign Secretary Misri Meets U.S. Delegation as Russia Sanctions Law Looms

In the news: On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a five-member U.S. Congressional Delegation headed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast. The meeting came days after Congress passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) on 16 September. The Act asks the U.S. President to impose up to 100% sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil. A decision on India is expected next month, with a 30-day deadline pending.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• SRIA: Passed on 16 September; mandates up to 100% sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and extends sanctions on trade with Iran.

• Secondary sanctions: Sanctions on third countries that buy Russian oil; now proposed against China and India.

• Waiver: A waiver of the sanctions can be granted under certain conditions.

• U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee: The committee Brian Mast chairs.

• MEA statement: Talks covered SRIA, energy security, counter-terrorism and freedom of navigation.

• Foreign Secretary: Vikram Misri, who also discussed the issue with U.S. Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker.

MCQs

Q1. What does SRIA mandate?
A. A ban on all trade with India
B. Up to 100% sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil
C. A fixed tariff of 10% on Indian goods
D. A waiver for all oil importers
Answer: B

Q2. Who headed the U.S. Congressional Delegation that met Mr. Misri?
A. Jimmy Patronis
B. Haley Stevens
C. Brian Mast
D. Shri Thanedar
Answer: C

Q3. On what date was SRIA passed in the U.S. Congress?
A. 16 September
B. 24 September
C. 28 September
D. 7 October
Answer: A

5. COP31 in Türkiye: Hosts Australia and Türkiye Face the Fossil-Fuel Question

In the news: COP31 will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November. Türkiye's Environment Minister Murat Kurum is President, while Australia oversees the negotiations, with Minister Chris Bowen as Vice-President. A pre-COP event will be held in Fiji on 5-8 October. The primary goal is to raise the electricity share of final energy demand from just over 20% to 35% by 2035. None of the priority themes directly mentions transitioning away from fossil fuels.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• COP31: The next UN climate change conference, with a shared Türkiye-Australia arrangement.

• UNFCCC: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the framework for the COP talks.

• Common but differentiated responsibilities: The principle India asked to be included in any "fossil fuel road map" at COP30.

• Pre-COP: A routine event before the annual summit to prepare what to negotiate.

• Fossil fuel roadmap: Pushed by the EU at COP30 in Belém.

• Loss and damage financing: Not among the priority topics of the joint presidency.

MCQs

Q1. Where will COP31 be held?
A. Belém
B. Santa Marta
C. Antalya
D. Fiji
Answer: C

Q2. Who is the Vice-President of COP31?
A. Murat Kurum
B. Chris Bowen
C. Brian Mast
D. Ashok Singhal
Answer: B

Q3. Which principle did India ask to be included in the "fossil fuel road map" at COP30?
A. Polluter pays
B. Precautionary principle
C. Common but differentiated responsibilities
D. Sustainable development
Answer: C

September 28, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

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

• Article 326 - Right to vote for every adult citizen

• Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006) - Right to elect is statutory

• Section 33-A, RPA 1951 - Disclosure of criminal antecedents

• Article 329(b) - Bar on court intervention once the election process begins

• Section 24(4), RTI Act - Basis of the withdrawn Tamil Nadu G.O.

• SRIA - U.S. Russia and Iran sanctions law

• Common but differentiated responsibilities - India's condition at COP30

• COP31 - Antalya, Türkiye, November

CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs: September 26 - October 02, 2026