What is CLAT exam?
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance examination for students seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at National Law Universities (NLUs) and other participating institutions across India.
Key highlights of CLAT include:
- Full form: Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- Conducting authority: Consortium of National Law Universities
- Programmes covered: Undergraduate (5-year integrated law programmes) and postgraduate (LLM) courses
- Participating institutions: 26 National Law Universities across India
- Mode of examination: Offline, pen-and-paper-based test
India has a unique legal education system with dedicated National Law Universities established to promote excellence in legal studies. Inspired by the success of institutions such as the IITs and IIMs, the first NLU, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, was established in 1987. Today, CLAT serves as a common entrance examination that provides aspiring law students access to some of the country's leading law schools through a single admission process.
Purpose of CLAT exam
The CLAT examination plays a vital role in the Indian legal education system by providing a common, merit-based admission process for National Law Universities and other participating law institutions.
The key objectives of CLAT include:
- Streamlined admission process: CLAT enables candidates to apply to multiple participating law universities through a single entrance examination, eliminating the need to appear for separate admission tests.
- Merit-driven selection: The examination assesses candidates across areas such as English language skills, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, current affairs, and quantitative techniques to ensure admissions are based on aptitude and performance.
- Accessible opportunity for all candidates: By following a standardised evaluation framework, CLAT offers students from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds an equal opportunity to compete for admission to leading law institutions.
Levels in the CLAT exam
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CLAT exam dates and schedule 2026
| Event / Category | Details / Expected Date |
| Online Application Opens | August 2026 |
| Online Application Closes | November 2026 |
| CLAT 2027 Admission Test (Offline) | December 2026 |
| Application Fee (UG & PG) | Rs. 4,000 |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwD/BPL) | Rs. 3,500 |
CLAT 2026 application process
Registrations for CLAT 2027 are expected to open in August 2026. Candidates must complete the application form before the closing date. The application process is entirely online and can be accessed at the Consortium of National Law Universities.
- To register, candidates need to provide their name, mobile number, and email ID. After registration, verify your email and log in using the OTP sent to your registered address.
- Next, complete the application form by entering personal details (name, date of birth, gender, category), communication address, parent/guardian information, academic qualifications, preferred test centres, and uploading the required documents.
- The application is finalised by paying the fee online via debit/credit card or net banking. The fee is Rs. 4,000 for General and OBC candidates, and Rs. 3,500 for SC/ST/BPL/PwD candidates.
- Once submitted, download the confirmation page for future reference.
Document required for CLAT 2026
| Document | Purpose |
| Passport-size photograph | Identity verification |
| Scanned signature | Application form submission |
| Class 10th marksheet | Age and academic proof |
| Class 12th marksheet | Eligibility verification |
| Graduation/LLB degree (PG applicants) | PG eligibility proof |
| Aadhaar card or valid ID proof | Identity verification |
| Category certificate (if applicable) | SC/ST/OBC/PwD fee relaxation |
Pro tip: All documents should be in JPG/PDF format within the size limits specified on the official portal.
CLAT eligibility criteria
Understanding the CLAT eligibility requirements is essential before beginning the application process. The eligibility criteria differ for undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes and are outlined below.
UG CLAT eligibility
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualifying examination | Class 12 or an equivalent qualification from a recognised board |
| Minimum marks - General/OBC category | 45% aggregate marks |
| Minimum marks - SC/ST category | 40% aggregate marks |
| Age limit | No upper age limit |
| Nationality | Indian citizens and NRIs are eligible to apply |
PG CLAT eligibility
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualifying degree | LLB degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university |
| Minimum marks - General/OBC category | 50% aggregate marks |
| Minimum marks - SC/ST category | 45% aggregate marks |
| Candidates with supplementary examinations | Eligible, provided the required qualifying marks are obtained before the admission deadline |
*Foreign nationals seeking admission through international or foreign candidate quotas should refer to the admission guidelines issued by the respective National Law Universities (NLUs).
CLAT syllabus
The postgraduate (LLM) course syllabus is designed to assess candidates’ expertise in various areas of law. The CLAT LLM exam evaluates proficiency in the subjects listed below:
CLAT PG Syllabus 2026
| Subject 1 | Subject 2 |
| Criminal Law | Constitutional Law |
| Jurisprudence | Property Law |
| Constitutional Law | Public International Law |
| Administrative Law | Tax Law |
| Family Law | Labour and International Law |
| Law of Contract | Environmental Law |
| Company Law | Torts |
The PG-CLAT exam comprises 120 questions, with a total duration of 120 minutes. Each question carries one mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
CLAT exam pattern 2026
This national-level law entrance exam is conducted over a span of two hours. The CLAT question paper consists of 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), organised into five key sections:
- English, including Comprehension
- Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Techniques (Mathematics)
Since 2020, the exam has adopted a paragraph-based format, where each passage is followed by around 5 to 6 questions. The marks are generally distributed across these sections in the following manner:
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Marks |
| English Language | 22-26 questions | 22 - 26 |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28-32 questions | 28 - 32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 questions | 28 - 32 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 questions | 22 - 26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 questions | 10 - 14 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
CLAT admit card 2026
- Issued via the official Consortium portal
- Downloadable using registration credentials
- Contains exam date, centre details, and candidate information
- Mandatory to carry with valid ID proof
CLAT result 2026
- Published online on the Consortium’s website
- Includes scorecard and rank
- Qualified candidates proceed to counselling and seat allotment
CLAT counselling and seat allotment process
After the declaration of CLAT results, eligible candidates must participate in the centralised counselling process conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). The counselling process is designed to allocate seats based on merit, category, and candidate preferences.
The counselling process generally involves the following steps:
- Preference submission: Candidates are required to select and rank their preferred National Law Universities in order of choice.
- Seat allocation: Seats are allotted based on the candidate's CLAT rank, reservation category, and the availability of seats at participating institutions.
- Seat confirmation decision: Candidates can choose to accept the allotted seat or proceed according to the options provided during the counselling process within the specified timeline.
- Payment of admission fee: Admission is confirmed after the candidate completes the prescribed seat acceptance and counselling fee payment requirements.
- Further counselling rounds: Any vacant seats remaining after a counselling round are carried forward to subsequent rounds for allocation.
Tips for CLAT counselling
Following a strategic approach during counselling can improve your chances of securing admission to a preferred law university.
- Include multiple preferences: Consider listing all NLUs you would be willing to join rather than limiting your choices unnecessarily.
- Evaluate institutions carefully: Review factors such as academic reputation, faculty, placement opportunities, infrastructure, and specialisations before finalising your preference order.
- Keep documents ready: Ensure all original academic certificates, identity proofs, category certificates (if applicable), and other required documents are available for verification.
- Monitor counselling updates: Regularly check official counselling notifications and deadlines to avoid missing any important admission-related requirements.
CLAT 2026 cutoff
The CLAT cutoff differs each year and varies across National Law Universities, programmes, and reservation categories. Cutoff scores are determined after the declaration of results and are influenced by several admission-related factors.
Some of the key factors that affect CLAT cutoffs include:
- Number of applicants: Higher competition generally leads to increased cutoff scores.
- Difficulty level of the examination: A more challenging exam may result in lower cutoffs, while an easier paper can lead to higher cutoff trends.
- Availability of seats: The number of seats offered by each National Law University plays a significant role in determining cutoff ranks and scores.
- Reservation category: Cutoffs vary across categories such as General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD.
Leading National Law Universities, including NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and other top-ranked NLUs, typically record the highest cutoff scores due to strong demand and limited seat availability. Candidates aspiring to secure admission to these institutions should aim for a highly competitive score and rank to improve their chances during the counselling process.
CLAT 2026 exam centres
| State/Union Territory | Exam Centre Cities |
| Andhra Pradesh | Chittor/Tirupathi, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam |
| Assam | Guwahati |
| Bihar | Muzaffarpur, Patna |
| Chhattisgarh | Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Kurukshetra, Sonepat |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Hubli / Dharwad, Mangalore, Mysore |
| Kerala | Calicut, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur |
| Maharashtra | Amrawati, Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Thane |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| National Capital Territory of Delhi | New Delhi |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mohali, Patiala |
| Chandigarh UT | Chandigarh |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tirunelveli, Trichy |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Puducherry (Union Territory) | Puducherry |
| Silvassa (Union Territory) | Silvassa |
| Diu (Union Territory) | Diu |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida / Noida, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Barrackpore, Hooghly, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Malda, Siliguri |
CLAT vs other law entrance exams
Comparing CLAT with other law entrance examinations can help candidates identify the admission pathways that best align with their academic and career goals.
| Exam | Conducting Body | Colleges Covered | Level |
| CLAT | Consortium of NLUs | 26 NLUs + affiliated colleges | UG + PG |
| AILET | NLU Delhi | NLU Delhi only | UG + PG |
| LSAT India | Pearson VUE | 80+ private law colleges | UG + PG |
| SLAT | Symbiosis International | Symbiosis Law Schools | UG |
| DU LLB | Delhi University | DU Law Faculty | UG (3-year) |
Among these examinations, CLAT remains one of the most recognised and widely accepted law entrance tests in India. Its extensive acceptance across National Law Universities and participating institutions makes it a key examination for students aspiring to pursue legal education at leading law schools.
Books for CLAT preparation
| Book/Author | Subject focus |
| Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning | Legal reasoning, case studies |
| Word Power Made Easy | Vocabulary building |
| Manorama Yearbook | General knowledge & current affairs |
| Legal subject textbooks | For deeper conceptual clarity |
CLAT PG preparation tips
The preparation approach for this highly competitive exam typically falls into two main categories:
offline learning through traditional classroom coaching and online preparation using digital tools. While classroom-based coaching has long been the preferred method, online learning has seen a sharp rise since 2020. Aspirants now rely on digital platforms in several effective ways:
- Free study material: Candidates can access complimentary PDFs, including section-wise question banks, previous years’ papers with detailed solutions, and free mock tests. Online videos also play a key role in simplifying difficult concepts.
- Structured virtual learning: Although self-study is useful, guidance from expert faculty helps build a strong edge. Online coaching platforms offer organised lessons, doubt-solving sessions, extensive practice sets, and proven time-management strategies - crucial for an exam with strict time limits.
- Mock tests and quizzes: Regular practice is essential. Online portals allow students to take sectional tests or full-length mocks that closely replicate the real exam, helping them improve speed, accuracy, and overall exam strategy.
- Current affairs updates: Reading a reputed national newspaper remains valuable, but for quick revision, many candidates prefer crisp, curated summaries available online, offering the most relevant national and international events.
- Official preparation material: After completing registration, candidates can access authorised study resources uploaded by the Consortium directly on their personal dashboard.
Career opportunities after CLAT
| Qualification | Career paths |
| UG/LLB | Advocate, Judicial Services, Corporate Counsel |
| PG/LLM | Legal researcher, Law faculty, Policy roles |
Lawyer loan options for CLAT PG aspirants
Explore financial support options if you need funding for law education or related expenses. You can also lawyer loan to help with tuition, coaching, or exam prep.
Conclusion
CLAT 2026 offers a key pathway into premier law institutions in India. Knowing its date, registration procedures, eligibility, syllabus, and exam structure is crucial for aspirants. After securing admission, you may also consider a professional loan to support your academic or career growth.
