UPSC Current Affairs Today, 27 September 2026: Daily Notes, Prelims MCQs & Mains Questions
Today's UPSC current affairs cover 23 major stories across polity, international relations, economy, environment, science, and social issues. Each story below is explained in simple terms with the facts you need for Prelims and the arguments you need for Mains.
EC Announces SIR Relief Measures: UPSC Polity Notes on Article 324
The Election Commission held a full-bench meeting on Saturday and announced relief steps for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. It scrapped physical hearings for unmapped voters and started a special drive to enrol left-out voters, including first-time voters.
This came after two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, wrote dissent notes flagging centralised control of voter rolls and a changed Form 6.
Key facts to remember:
The Election Commission works under Article 324 of the Constitution.
The CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge (Article 324(5)). An Election Commissioner does not have this same protection.
Decisions in the Commission are taken by majority, and the CEC has no extra veto power.
Congress has asked the Supreme Court to step in on its own (suo motu).
Transgender Persons Act Row in SC: UPSC Current Affairs for GS2 Social Justice
Andhra Pradesh has told the Supreme Court it will not defend the Centre's 2026 changes to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. It said the law's validity is the Centre's job, not the State's. Uttarakhand, on the other hand, has defended the changes.
The 2026 amendment removed “self-perceived gender identity” from the law and replaced it with a definition based on physical characteristics. This goes against the spirit of the NALSA v Union of India (2014) judgment, where the Supreme Court first allowed people to self-identify their gender.
Andhra Pradesh's own data shows 3,750 people applied for transgender ID cards, and 3,233 were approved. Members of the National Council for Transgender Persons have resigned over the amendment.
J&K Statehood Resolution 2026: UPSC Polity Notes on Article 3 vs Article 370
The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution asking for the restoration of full Statehood. A day later, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.
Here's the difference students often confuse:
Statehood means becoming a full State again, done through a law under Article 3.
Special status meant extra autonomy under Article 370, which the Supreme Court closed the door on in its December 2023 verdict.
J&K is currently a Union Territory with a legislature, but the Lieutenant Governor still controls police and public order.
The Centre had told the Supreme Court in 2023 that Statehood would be restored at the earliest, and this promise is still pending.
Amaravati Capital Row Explained: UPSC Current Affairs on AP Reorganisation Act
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has closed the old petitions against the "three capitals" plan, calling them infructuous, which means there is nothing left to decide because the law itself has changed.
An amendment to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 has now made Amaravati the State's sole capital by law. This law was made using Parliament's power under Articles 3 and 4, which lets it reshape a State without needing a special constitutional amendment.
The State has promised the Supreme Court it will finish building Amaravati's infrastructure within three years. Related appeals will be heard in the Supreme Court on 29 November.
Justice Nagarathna on ADR in Family Courts: UPSC Mains GS2 Judiciary Notes
Supreme Court judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna has asked courts to rely more on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for family cases like divorce and maintenance, instead of long court battles.
She shared that India had 822 functioning family courts as of October 2024, with Bihar alone having over 70,000 pending cases. Her key suggestion is "consolidated referral" — sending all related family disputes from one household (like domestic violence and elder care issues) to a single mediator instead of multiple courts.
Simple difference to remember:
Arbitration gives a binding decision made by a third party.
Mediation and conciliation help both sides reach their own agreement.
A Lok Adalat award works like a court decree, and no appeal can be filed against it.
Jaishankar's UNGA Speech 2026: UPSC Current Affairs on India-Pakistan Relations
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the UN General Assembly that India's “right to defend against terrorism will be exercised,” and there will be “no dilution” in India's zero-tolerance policy. This was a reply to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who criticised Operation Sindoor and accused India of “weaponising water.”
A day earlier, a junior Indian diplomat used India's Right of Reply, a rule that lets a country respond to remarks made against it at the UN, to call Pakistan a “puppet” regime.
Important fact for Prelims: The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) was brokered by the World Bank, not the United Nations. India has held this treaty in abeyance (paused) after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025.
China-US Tariff Deal Explained: UPSC International Relations Notes for GS2
China and the United States have agreed on a $30 billion reciprocal tariff cut as part of an eight-point deal reached during President Xi Jinping's US visit. Both countries will also set up a trade council and start talks on AI safety.
They extended their trade truce by two months, past its earlier deadline of 10 November. Both leaders also agreed to support each other's turn at hosting global summits: China hosts APEC in 2026, and the US holds the G20 presidency this year.
Trap to avoid: India is a member of the G20, but not a member of APEC.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis: UPSC Current Affairs on India's Energy Security
The US has rejected Iran’s offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, an offer passed through Qatar. The US is keeping an economic blockade on Iran to force it to lift its own blockade of the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Its southern shore belongs to Oman's Musandam Peninsula (not the UAE, a common trap). It is the world's most important oil and gas shipping route.
Why it matters for India: most of India's crude oil and LNG imports pass through this route. Any closure would push up prices and shipping costs directly.
US-Denmark-Greenland Pact: UPSC Notes on Arctic Geopolitics for GS2
The US, Denmark, and Greenland signed a new security deal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It lets the US build new defence bases in Greenland at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, and brings Greenland under the US “Golden Dome” missile shield.
Greenland stays a self-governing territory of Denmark, not an independent country. The deal even says Greenland must stay in NATO and keep this agreement even if it becomes independent one day.
For India, this matters because it is an Arctic Council observer since 2013, and increased militarisation in the Arctic can affect scientific research and future shipping routes there.
Bangladesh-US Nuclear MoU: UPSC Current Affairs on India's Neighbourhood Policy
Bangladesh and the US signed an agreement (MoU) on peaceful civil nuclear cooperation in New York. This comes as Bangladesh builds its first nuclear plant, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, built by Russia's Rosatom.
India already has a role here through a 2018 tripartite MoU between India, Russia, and Bangladesh, where Indian companies help with construction and training at Rooppur.
Remember: an MoU is not the same as a formal “123 Agreement” under US nuclear law; it is a statement of intent, not a binding treaty.
Mega Ports Notified in India 2026: UPSC Current Affairs on Indian Ports Act
The Centre has declared four ports Kandla, JNPA, Paradip, and Mundra as “mega ports” under the new Indian Ports Act, 2025. This is a new category that looks at a port's size and capacity, not who owns it.
Kandla, JNPA, and Paradip are major ports (run by the Centre), while Mundra is a non-major port run privately by Adani Ports. This shows that even a private port can now be called a mega port if it meets the criteria.
Separately, Cochin Shipyard signed a deal with Singapore’s Synergy Marine Group for ship repair and conversion work, supporting India's shipbuilding push.
Coal Plants Ordered Full Capacity: UPSC GS3 Notes on Electricity Act 2003
The Power Ministry has ordered more than 100 captive coal power plants (each above 50 MW) to run at maximum capacity from 1 October to the end of the year. This uses emergency powers under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which lets the government direct a power plant to operate a certain way during extraordinary situations.
A “captive plant” is one built mainly for the owner's own use, like a factory generating its own power.
In a separate move, NTPC and France's EDF have formed a 50:50 joint venture for pumped storage projects, a system where water is pumped uphill when power is cheap, then released to generate electricity when demand is high.
CCPA Fines E-Commerce Giants: UPSC Current Affairs on Consumer Protection Act
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined Amazon and Flipkart ₹10 lakh each, and JioMart ₹5 lakh, for selling an unregistered weed-killer called “Cyclosinone Herbicide.” This chemical was not listed under the Insecticides Act, 1968, meaning it never passed safety checks.
On Amazon alone, this product was sold in 38,410 orders worth nearly ₹96.4 lakh. All three platforms must now audit their listings and report back within 15 days.
The CCPA is a statutory body created under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This case shows that e-commerce platforms can no longer just say they are “middlemen” with no responsibility for what sellers list.
Western Ghats ESA Row 2026: UPSC Environment Notes on Kasturirangan Report
Both houses of the Karnataka legislature have rejected the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats protection, for the seventh time; this has happened with different drafts. They want one full year to do a ground survey before accepting any area as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA).
Two reports guide this debate:
The Gadgil report (2011) wanted the entire Western Ghats (about 1.29 lakh sq km) protected.
The Kasturirangan report (2013) cut this down to about 37% of the area, calling it the “natural landscape.”
Karnataka has the largest share of the proposed ESA, over 20,000 sq km across 10 districts. States want ground-level verification (like Kerala did) instead of relying only on satellite maps.
Niyamgiri Mining Row Explained: UPSC Notes on Forest Rights Act for GS3
Vedanta's chairman has asked Odisha's Chief Minister to reopen bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hills, 13 years after it was stopped. The hills are estimated to hold 72–88 million tonnes of bauxite.
In 2013, local Gram Sabhas (village councils) rejected mining after the Supreme Court asked them to decide, based on their religious and cultural rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This was called India's first “environmental referendum.” Niyamgiri is sacred to the Dongria Kondh tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
Key point: the Supreme Court gave the decision-making power to the Gram Sabha, not to any court or state government, so a State cannot simply override that decision.
Maharashtra Drought Declared: UPSC Current Affairs on Disaster Management
Maharashtra has declared drought in 265 of its 358 taluks, based on a continuous 21-day dry spell called “Trigger 1” under the national drought manual. Twelve relief steps have started, including loan waivers, exam fee waivers, and drinking water tankers.
Important fact: only State governments can declare drought, not the Centre. The Centre only helps through the National Disaster Response Fund after its own team visits and confirms the damage.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh got good rain from a Bay of Bengal depression, ending its earlier El Niño-related rainfall shortage.
India's First E-Methanol Plant: UPSC Current Affairs on Green Hydrogen Mission
The government has laid the foundation for India's first port-based e-methanol plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla, costing ₹2,300 crore. E-methanol is made using renewable power, water, and captured CO2, making it a clean fuel option for ships.
The plant, a joint venture between Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd, will produce 150 tonnes per day once fully built. It supports India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (launched 2023) and aims to help ships on the busy Asia-Europe trade route switch to cleaner fuel.
PFOS Forever Chemicals and Immunity: UPSC Environment Notes on Stockholm Convention
A new study shows that PFOS, a common "forever chemical" found in many household products, weakens the body's ability to fight viral infections like influenza and hepatitis B. It does this by blocking a protein called IRF3, which normally helps release infection-fighting interferons.
“Forever chemicals” get this name because their strong carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down easily in nature. PFOS is controlled under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001), a global treaty to reduce harmful, long-lasting chemicals, not the Basel or Rotterdam conventions, which deal with different issues.
IIT Madras Dam Safety Study: UPSC Current Affairs on Disaster Management GS3
An IIT-Madras study checked 6,545 dams under India's National Dam Safety Authority and found that standard earthquake zone maps often get the risk wrong. For big Himalayan dams like Tehri and Bhakra, the usual maps were too cautious in some cases.
The team built a tool using data from over 68,000 earthquakes recorded from 2,600 BC to 2019. This method is called Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA); it studies the actual risk at one specific location instead of using one fixed number for a whole zone.
This matters because dams affect thousands of people downstream, so getting the safety numbers right is critical.
Pew Survey on AI Fear 2026: UPSC Current Affairs on India's AI Governance
A Pew Research survey of over 42,000 people across 36 countries found that fear about AI taking away jobs rises with a country's wealth. In rich countries, 55% expect job losses from AI; in middle-income countries, only 36% feel the same. In India, just 13% think AI will widen the rich-poor gap.
Two real incidents show why this matters: a Bengaluru traffic camera wrongly fined a rider by mistaking a guitar case for a missing helmet, and OpenAI admitted its AI system posted users' private images online by mistake.
The lesson here: low worry in poorer countries often means low awareness, not low risk. Automated systems can make real errors that affect real people.
IIT Bombay Suicide Case: UPSC Current Affairs on SC/ST Welfare for GS2
A 20-year-old Dalit student, Sahil Wakode, died by suicide at IIT Bombay on 18 September. His family has alleged caste discrimination and filed a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The institute has since apologised, suspended a senior professor, and accepted 18 student demands, including one counsellor for every 250 students.
This follows a court-appointed National Task Force, led by retired Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, which found that 13,600 students from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds dropped out of top institutions between 2018 and 2023 despite fee waivers and stipends.
This shows that admission through reservation is not enough; institutions also need proper support systems to help students stay and succeed.
Haryana Spandan One Scheme: UPSC Current Affairs on Health PPP Model
Haryana's Spandan One programme uses smartphone-linked ECG machines to detect heart problems at small government health centres. Frontline health workers run the test, and a doctor reviews the result in under three minutes.
Started in May 2026 with private company Sunfox Technologies, it now covers almost 600 government health facilities. As of mid-September, it had run 33,854 ECG tests and found 1,342 critical cases early.
This is called a hub-and-spoke model: small centres (spokes) detect the problem and give basic medicine, while bigger hospitals (hubs) with a cath lab do the actual heart procedure. The biggest gap right now is transport getting the patient from the spoke to the hub quickly enough.
Delhi HC POCSO Ruling: UPSC Current Affairs on Child Marriage Law GS2
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a marriage under Muslim personal law does not protect a husband from prosecution under the POCSO Act if his wife is under 18. The court refused to cancel an FIR filed against a man who married a 16-year-old girl in December 2024; her age came out during a hospital visit for pregnancy.
The POCSO Act, 2012 treats anyone below 18 as a child, with no exception for marriage. The court made clear that personal law cannot override criminal law when Parliament has not created any such exception.
This case reaffirms a simple rule: consent given by someone below 18 has no legal value under child protection law, regardless of religion or marital status.
UPSC Current Affairs Quiz and Mains Answer Writing Practice: 27 September 2026
Test what you've learned today:
Under Article 324(5), who can be removed only in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge: the CEC or all Election Commissioners equally?
Which treaty controls "forever chemicals" like PFOS: the Stockholm, Basel, or Rotterdam Convention?
Which shore of the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Oman: the northern or southern?
What triggered Maharashtra's drought declaration a rainfall percentage drop or a 21-day dry spell?
Who decided the fate of Niyamgiri mining in 2013: the Supreme Court, the State government, or the Gram Sabha?
For Mains practice, pick any GS2 story above (like the EC dissent or the J&K Statehood resolution) and write a 250-word answer using this structure: state the core issue, add today's facts as evidence, give a counterpoint, and end with a way forward. This habit builds strong, balanced answers for the actual exam.
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