CLAT 2027 Daily Current Affairs - September 30, 2026 | Sambhal NSA Quashed, Drug Price Mark-ups, J&K Statehood

1. SC Quashes NSA Detention in Sambhal Violence Case, Fines U.P. Government ₹10 Lakh

In the news: The Supreme Court quashed the preventive detention of Mulla Afroz under the National Security Act (NSA), holding that there was no clear connection between the material on record and the detention order.

A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu set aside the October 2025 detention order, which had been passed after the November 2024 violence in Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Court also imposed a cost of ₹10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government.

The Bench held that a confessional statement made before a police officer cannot, on its own, form the basis for detention under the NSA. It further observed that the detention had turned more punitive than preventive in nature, which defeats the very purpose of preventive detention.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

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

• Preventive vs punitive detention: The Court held the detention here had become "more punitive than preventive," which is not permitted under the NSA.

• Article 20(3): Protection against self-incrimination; the Court said relying on a coerced confession would run contrary to this protection.

• Habeas corpus: The remedy Mr Afroz used to challenge his detention before the Allahabad High Court and then the Supreme Court.

• Section 3(2), NSA: The provision under which the Sambhal District Magistrate ordered preventive detention.

MCQs

Q1. Under which Act was the accused detained in the Sambhal case?

A. UAPA

B. National Security Act, 1980

C. POCSO Act

D. PMLA

Answer: B

Q2. What did the Supreme Court say about a confessional statement made before a police officer?

A. It alone can justify NSA detention

B. It cannot, by itself, constitute a basis for detention under the NSA

C. It must be recorded on video

D. It is admissible only in bail proceedings

Answer: B

Q3. What remedy did the accused use to challenge his detention?

A. A writ of habeas corpus

B. A curative petition

C. A public interest litigation

D. An election petition

Answer: A

2. SC Questions Steep Mark-ups on Essential Drugs, Calls It "Carnage"

In the news: The Supreme Court expressed concern over the sharp disparity between prices charged to retailers and consumers for essential medicines, including cancer drugs, calling steep mark-ups "carnage." A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta questioned why the 16% retailer margin under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013 is not applied uniformly. Justice Mehta cited a cancer drug supplied to retailers for about ₹3,000 but sold to consumers for ₹27,000. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said private hospitals, not pharmaceutical companies, are the real gainers from the mark-ups.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013: Regulates prices of scheduled essential medicines, fixing a 16% retailer margin.

• Price to Retailer (PTR): The price at which a drug is supplied to a retailer, used as the base for calculating permissible mark-up.

• Scheduled vs non-scheduled drugs: Only scheduled formulations are subject to price control under the DPCO; combination drugs may be treated differently.

• Public interest litigation (PIL): The mechanism used here to seek judicial intervention on drug pricing.

MCQs

Q1. Under which order is the 16% retailer margin prescribed?

A. Essential Commodities Act, 1955

B. Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013

C. Consumer Protection Act, 2019

D. Competition Act, 2002

Answer: B

Q2. According to the Solicitor General, who benefits most from the steep mark-ups?

A. Pharmaceutical companies

B. Private hospitals

C. The government

D. Retail pharmacists

Answer: B

Q3. What does "PTR" stand for in the context of drug pricing?

A. Price to Retailer

B. Public Tax Rate

C. Patient Treatment Ratio

D. Pharma Trade Regulation

Answer: A

3. J&K Assembly Passes Statehood Resolution; Editorial Calls for No Further Delay

In the news: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution calling on the Centre for the "immediate and urgent restoration of full Statehood," with around 60 of 90 legislators supporting it and 29 BJP MLAs opposing. An editorial notes that J&K was downgraded into two Union Territories in 2019, ending nearly 70 years of special constitutional status. It says the Supreme Court has sought restoration of Statehood "as soon as possible," and that predicating Statehood on the end of militancy would effectively give Pakistan's strategy of state-sponsored terrorism a say in the matter.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Union Territory (UT): A centrally administered territory; J&K was reorganised into two UTs under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

• Statehood: Full self-governance with an elected government having greater legislative powers than a UT.

• 2024 Assembly election: Cited as an "unprecedented departure" with high voter turnout (63.88%) and no boycott politics in Kashmir.

• Judicial direction: The Supreme Court has previously directed early restoration of Statehood to J&K.

MCQs

Q1. How many BJP legislators opposed the Statehood resolution, per the editorial?

A. 19

B. 29

C. 39

D. 60

Answer: B

Q2. J&K was reorganised into two Union Territories under which Act?

A. Government of India Act, 1935

B. J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019

C. States Reorganisation Act, 1956

D. Special Status Act, 2019

Answer: B

Q3. What voter turnout figure does the editorial cite for the 2024 J&K Assembly election?

A. 55.42%

B. 63.88%

C. 73.5%

D. 88%

Answer: B

4. AFSPA Extended for Six More Months in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh

In the news: The Union Home Ministry extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months from October 1, 2026. In Manipur, the entire State remains a "disturbed area" except 13 police stations in five Valley districts. AFSPA's footprint in Manipur had been shrinking before the May 2023 ethnic conflict, but the Centre reimposed it in six police stations in November 2024, a move the State government itself opposed.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• AFSPA, 1958: Gives armed forces special powers in areas declared "disturbed," including arrest without warrant and use of force.

• Section 3, AFSPA: The provision under which an area is declared "disturbed."

• Central vs State power to declare "disturbed area": Both governments can declare an area disturbed; for Assam it is the State government, for Manipur/Nagaland/Arunachal it is currently the MHA.

• Prosecution sanction: Legal proceedings against personnel acting under AFSPA require prior sanction of the Central government.

• J&K AFSPA, 1990: A separate Act applies specifically to Jammu and Kashmir.

MCQs

Q1. From which date has AFSPA been extended in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh?

A. September 1, 2026

B. October 1, 2026

C. November 14, 2024

D. May 3, 2023

Answer: B

Q2. Under which Section of AFSPA can an area be declared "disturbed"?

A. Section 3

B. Section 6

C. Section 10

D. Section 124A

Answer: A

Q3. Prosecution of armed forces personnel for acts under AFSPA requires:

A. No sanction at all

B. Prior sanction of the Central government

C. Sanction of the State High Court

D. Sanction of the local police station

Answer: B

5. Indian Delegation Attends SCO Meeting in Pakistan, First Since Operation Sindoor

In the news: An Indian delegation led by a senior External Affairs Ministry official attended a preparatory meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) National Coordinators in Islamabad, the first official Indian visit to Pakistan since Operation Sindoor. Pakistan announced it will host the SCO Summit in August 2027. Indian officials clarified the meeting was multilateral in format and had no particular significance for India-Pakistan bilateral ties, while India separately rejected Turkish President Erdogan's reference to Kashmir in his UNGA speech.

What CLAT 2027 aspirants should know

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A multilateral grouping including India, China, Pakistan, Russia and Central Asian states.

• Operation Sindoor: India's 2025 military action against terror infrastructure, referenced as the last major flashpoint before this visit.

• SCO Chairship: Rotates among member states; Pakistan currently chairs it for 2026-27.

• Multilateral vs bilateral engagement: India distinguished attending a multilateral SCO meeting from any bilateral engagement with Pakistan.

MCQs

Q1. Where was the SCO National Coordinators' preparatory meeting held?

A. Beijing

B. Islamabad

C. New Delhi

D. Moscow

Answer: B

Q2. Which country will host the SCO Summit in August 2027?

A. India

B. Russia

C. Pakistan

D. China

Answer: C

Q3. This was the first official Indian visit to Pakistan since which event?

A. The 2019 Balakot strike

B. Operation Sindoor

C. The Pulwama attack

D. The Kargil War

Answer: B

September 30, 2026 Current Affairs: Quick Revision

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

1. National Security Act (NSA), 1980 - Preventive detention quashed in Sambhal case

2. Article 20(3) - Protection against self-incrimination

3. Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013 - 16% retailer margin

4. Price to Retailer (PTR) - Base price for drug mark-up calculation

5. J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 - Created two Union Territories

6. Statehood resolution - Passed by J&K Assembly

7. AFSPA, 1958 - Extended in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh

8. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) - Pakistan to host 2027 Summit

CLAT 2027 Previous Day Current Affairs: September 23 - September 29, 2026