CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - October 30, 2026 | Digital Arrest Scams, SIR Design Flaw, DPDP vs Press Free

1. SC Pulls Up RBI Over Digital Arrest Scams, Seeks Compensation for Victims

In the news: The Supreme Court asked the RBI to make banks fully compensate digital arrest victims whenever the fraud happened due to institutional lapses. CJI Surya Kant noted over Rs 800 crore was lost to such scams in a year, calling it the "biggest financial fraud in the history of this country."

The Court wants to examine the draft RBI (KYC) Amendment Directions, 2026, which require banks to flag unusual transactions and alert police. The Attorney-General said these rules will be notified by November 30 and rolled out by December 31. The Court also sought FIR data from States and listed the matter for November 30.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Digital arrest scam: A cyber fraud where scammers pose as police or officials on video calls and threaten victims into paying money.

• KYC (Know Your Customer): A regulatory process banks follow to verify identity, now being expanded to flag suspicious transactions.

• Amicus curiae: A "friend of the court," an independent expert assisting the court, as seen in this case.

• Consumer protection in banking: Financial institutions can be held responsible for losses when their own systems fail to catch fraud.

MCQs

Q1. How much money was reported lost to digital arrest scams in a year, as cited in the Court?

 A. Rs 200 crore

 B. Rs 800 crore

 C. Rs 8,000 crore

 D. Rs 80 crore

 Answer: B

Q2. What did the Supreme Court ask the RBI to ensure through financial institutions?

 A. A complete ban on digital transactions

 B. Full compensation to victims where institutional lapses caused the fraud

 C. Closure of all online banking

 D. Arrest of all bank employees

Answer: B

Q3. By when is the RBI (KYC) Amendment Directions, 2026 expected to be notified?

 A. October 30, 2026

 B. November 30, 2026

 C. December 31, 2026

 D. January 2027

 Answer: B

2. SC Flags Design Flaws in Delhi SIR, Questions ECI's Deletion Process

In the news: Hearing a plea on Delhi's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked if a voter slow to respond to forms could lose their right to vote forever. The Bench said the ECI was wrong to make such deleted voters reapply as fresh voters through Form 6, instead of letting them simply update their details.

The Court noted that in Karnataka's SIR, about 84 lakh electors were deleted as "shifted" or "absent," while only 8.2 lakh were added back, leaving the final roll 64.5 lakh short of the projected population. It also clarified the Bihar SIR judgment was not binding on other States.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A detailed door-to-door re-verification of electoral rolls by the Election Commission.

• Form 6: The form for fresh voter registration; the Court objected to deleted voters being forced to use it.

• Binding precedent: A past judicial decision other courts must follow; the Bihar SIR ruling does not bind every State.

• Right to vote: Recognised as a statutory right under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

• Burden of enrolment: Who must act to keep a voter's name on the roll; the Court questioned shifting this entirely onto voters.

MCQs

Q1. What concern did Justice Bagchi raise about voters deleted for being "lax" in responding to forms?

 A. Whether they could lose their right to vote forever

 B. Whether they should be fined

 C. Whether they needed police verification

 D. Whether they could vote online instead

Answer: A

Q2. What did the Court say about the Bihar SIR judgment?

 A. It applies automatically to all States

 B. It was not a binding precedent for other States

 C. It was overturned entirely

 D. It applies only to Bihar's municipal elections

Answer: B

Q3. In Karnataka's SIR, how many electors were deleted as "shifted" or "absent," according to the passage?

 A. 8.2 lakh

 B. 64.5 lakh

 C. 84 lakh

 D. 1 lakh

 Answer: C

3. Media Body Challenges Digital Personal Data Protection Act Over Press Freedom

Concerns

In the news: The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has challenged the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 before the Supreme Court, saying it has no exemption for journalism. Without this, reporters investigating official misconduct could be treated as a "data fiduciary" and made to seek consent from the people they are investigating. Earlier drafts, from 2018, 2019 and 2021, did carry this exemption.

The petition also challenges Section 44(3) of the Act, which amended the RTI Act, 2005 to drop the public-interest rule for disclosing personal information. The Supreme Court, while issuing notice, said press freedom and privacy both need balancing.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: India's law on how personal data is collected, processed and protected.

• Data fiduciary: Under the Act, any entity deciding the purpose of processing personal data, bound by duties like seeking consent.

• Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, under which press freedom has been read in.

• Section 44(3), DPDP Act: Amended the RTI Act, 2005 to remove the public-interest exception for personal data disclosure.

• RTI Act, 2005: Allows citizens to seek information from public authorities, subject to certain exemptions.

MCQs

Q1. What is the DNPA's main concern about the DPDP Act, 2023?

 A. It bans all digital news

 B. It has no specific exemption for journalistic activity

 C. It only applies to television channels

 D. It gives journalists unlimited access to data

 Answer: B

Q2. Which earlier law did Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act amend?

 A. The Indian Penal Code

 B. The RTI Act, 2005

 C. The IT Act, 2000

 D. The Press Council Act, 1978

 Answer: B

Q3. Under which Article has the Supreme Court read freedom of the press into the Constitution?

 A. Article 21

 B. Article 14

 C. Article 19(1)(a)

 D. Article 32

Answer: C

4. Arunachal Protesters Demand Release of Activists Opposing Mega Dam Meant to Counter China

In the news: A rally in Itanagar demanded release of people detained over protests against the 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). Over 30 were detained after violence on October 23-24. The government says the dam is needed to offset China's much larger 60,000-MW project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, which becomes the Siang as it enters Arunachal Pradesh.

Protesters said they aren't against dams generally but oppose the project being pushed without consultation, accusing the government of militarising the area for survey work. A week earlier, an NHPC office was set on fire and two MLAs' homes were vandalised.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Yarlung Tsangpo-Siang-Brahmaputra: The same river is called Yarlung Tsangpo in China, Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, and Brahmaputra after Assam.

• Trans-boundary river: A river flowing across international borders, raising questions of shared water rights and cooperation.

• NHPC: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, involved in preparing the project's feasibility report.

• Right to land and livelihood: A concern raised by protesters, linked to fundamental rights and indigenous identity.

• Federal and local consultation: The protests highlight tension between national infrastructure priorities and local community rights.

MCQs

Q1. What is the proposed capacity of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)?

 A. 1,605 MW

 B. 11,200 MW

 C. 60,000 MW

 D. 800 MW

 Answer: B

Q2. What name does the Yarlung Tsangpo river take once it enters Arunachal Pradesh?

 A. Brahmaputra

 B. Siang

 C. Dibang

 D. Lohit

 Answer: B

Q3. Why does the government say the SUMP is necessary?

 A. To stop flooding in Assam only

 B. To counter the impact of China's larger hydropower project on the same river

 C. To provide drinking water to Itanagar

 D. To replace the Subansiri project entirely

Answer: B

5. Ex-Judge's Remarks on "Pre-Approval" of Names Revive Debate on Judicial Appointments

In the news: Retired judge Justice Sanjay Kaul said former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud may have discussed proposed judge names with the government even before the collegium formally met, calling this "pre-approval" that weakens judicial independence. The remark has reignited debate on India's collegium system.

Articles 124 and 217 provide for appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges by the President after consulting the judiciary. The collegium system, created by the Second Judges case (1993) and reaffirmed by the Third Judges case (1998), now decides these appointments. Parliament's NJAC, set up via the 99th Amendment in 2014, was struck down in 2015 for violating judicial independence.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Article 124: Provides for appointment of Supreme Court judges by the President after consulting the CJI.

• Article 217: Provides for appointment of High Court judges after consulting the CJI, High Court Chief Justice and Governor.

• Collegium system: Created by the Second Judges case (1993), reaffirmed by the Third Judges case (1998).

• National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC): Set up by the 99th Amendment, 2014; struck down by the SC in 2015.

• Basic structure doctrine: Core constitutional features, like judicial independence, cannot be altered even by amendment.

MCQs

Q1. Which case created the collegium system for judicial appointments?

 A. First Judges case (1981)

 B. Second Judges case (1993)

 C. Kesavananda Bharati case (1973)

 D. NJAC case (2015)

Answer: B

Q2. Why was the NJAC struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015?

 A. It was not passed by Parliament

 B. It violated the basic structure doctrine on judicial independence

 C. It was opposed by the President

 D. It lacked a Law Minister's approval

 Answer: B

Q3. Under Article 217, who is consulted before appointing a High Court judge?

 A. Only the President

 B. CJI, Chief Justice of the High Court and the State Governor

 C. Only Parliament

 D. Only the Prime Minister

 Answer: B

October 30, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

Candidates can refer to the key facts and practise the MCQs below to revise these topics for CLAT 2027:

1. RBI (KYC) Amendment Directions, 2026 - To curb digital arrest fraud

2. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) - Electoral roll exercise under SC scrutiny

3. Form 6 - Fresh voter registration, flagged as wrongly applied to deleted voters

4. Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 - Challenged for lacking journalist exemption

5. Article 19(1)(a) - Basis for constitutionally protected press freedom

6. Yarlung Tsangpo-Siang-Brahmaputra - Trans-boundary river at the centre of the dam dispute

7. Article 124 and Article 217 - Appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges

8. Collegium system - Created by the Second and Third Judges cases; NJAC struck down in 2015