CLAT 2026 — Common Law Admission Test Complete Guide

What is CLAT?

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programmes across India. It is the single most important exam for students who want to study law at a top NLU.

CLAT is held once a year, usually in December, and is accepted by all 24 National Law Universities as well as many other private law colleges. The exam is organised on a rotational basis by one of the participating NLUs each year.

Quick Fact: CLAT is a pen-and-paper based exam (offline mode) with objective-type questions.

Eligibility Criteria

For UG Programme (5-Year Integrated LLB)

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognised board.
• Minimum Marks: General/OBC/PWD — 45% aggregate. SC/ST — 40% aggregate.
• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for CLAT UG.
• Appearing Candidates: Students appearing in Class 12 exams in the current year can also apply provisionally.

For PG Programme (1-Year LLM)

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold an LLB / integrated law degree from a recognised university.
• Minimum Marks: General/OBC/PWD — 50% aggregate. SC/ST — 45% aggregate.
• Age Limit: No upper age limit.

Exam Pattern

CLAT UG Pattern

• Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
• Marking: +1 for correct, −0.25 for wrong answer
• Mode: Offline (pen and paper)
• Language: English only

CLAT PG Pattern

• Duration, marking, and mode are the same as UG.

Syllabus

CLAT UG Syllabus

1. English Language — Reading comprehension passages covering vocabulary, grammar, and sentence correction. No direct grammar questions — everything is passage-based.

2. Current Affairs & General Knowledge — News, events, and developments from the past 12 months. Covers national/international affairs, sports, awards, government schemes, and legal news.

3. Legal Reasoning — Passage-based questions testing your ability to read legal rules, apply them to fact situations, and draw conclusions. No prior legal knowledge required.

4. Logical Reasoning — Identifying patterns, drawing inferences, analogies, syllogisms, and critical reasoning from passages.

5. Quantitative Techniques — Basic maths up to Class 10 level — percentages, ratios, averages, data interpretation, and simple arithmetic.

CLAT PG Syllabus

Covers Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contract Law, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR, and other core law subjects studied in the LLB programme.

How to Apply for CLAT 2026

1. Visit the official CLAT website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
2. Register with your email ID and mobile number
3. Fill the application form with personal, educational, and category details
4. Upload photograph, signature, and required documents
5. Pay the application fee:
   • General/OBC/PWD: ₹4,000
   • SC/ST: ₹3,500
6. Download and save your confirmation page

Tip: Apply early to avoid last-minute technical issues. Keep your Class 12 marksheet and category certificate ready.

Preparation Strategy

6-Month Preparation Plan

Months 1–2: Build Your Foundation

• Read newspapers daily (The Hindu / Indian Express) for current affairs
• Start with NCERT books for basic English and Maths
• Practice reading comprehension regularly

Months 3–4: Deep Practice

• Solve previous year CLAT papers (at least 5 years)
• Focus on legal reasoning — read passages carefully and practise applying rules to facts
• Join a good test series for regular mock exams

Months 5–6: Revision & Mock Tests

• Take full-length mock tests every alternate day
• Revise current affairs notes weekly
• Analyse your weak areas and work on them specifically

Best Resources for CLAT Preparation

• English: Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis), newspaper editorials
• Current Affairs: Monthly GK magazines, Pratiyogita Darpan, daily news apps
• Legal Reasoning: Legal Aptitude by A.P. Bhardwaj, previous year papers
• Logical Reasoning: RS Aggarwal (Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning)
• Maths: RS Aggarwal (Quantitative Aptitude) — Class 10 level chapters only

NLU Counselling Process

After CLAT results are declared, the Consortium conducts an online counselling process for seat allotment:

1. Merit List — A common merit list is prepared based on CLAT scores
2. Preference Filling — Candidates fill their NLU and course preferences online
3. Seat Allotment — Seats are allotted in multiple rounds based on rank and preference
4. Fee Payment & Reporting — Accepted candidates pay the fee and report to the allotted NLU
5. Spot Round — Vacant seats are filled in a final spot counselling round

Top NLUs Accepting CLAT Scores

• NLSIU Bangalore (National Law School)
• NALSAR Hyderabad
• NLU Jodhpur (NLUJ)
• WBNUJS Kolkata (NUJS)
• NLU Delhi (issues its own AILET exam — does NOT accept CLAT)
• GNLU Gandhinagar
• RMLNLU Lucknow
• HNLU Raipur
• CNLU Patna
• And 15+ more NLUs across India

Note: NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance exam called AILET. It does not accept CLAT scores.

Important Tips

1. Read the newspaper daily — At least 30 minutes. Current affairs carry the highest weightage in CLAT UG.

2. Focus on passage-based practice — CLAT is entirely passage-based now. Direct knowledge questions are rare. Train yourself to read and analyse passages quickly.

3. Time management is everything — You get just 1 minute per question. Practice with a timer from day one.

4. Don't skip Maths — Quantitative Techniques is the easiest section to score full marks. Basic Class 10 maths is enough.

5. Take at least 30 mock tests — Mock tests are the single best way to improve your score. Analyse every test thoroughly.

6. Avoid negative marking traps — With −0.25 penalty, random guessing hurts. Skip questions you have no clue about.

7. Stay updated on exam notifications — Follow the official CLAT website and set alerts for important dates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many times can I attempt CLAT?

There is no limit on the number of attempts. You can appear for CLAT as many times as you want, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

2. Is CLAT conducted online or offline?

CLAT is conducted in offline mode (pen and paper) at designated exam centres across India.

3. What is the exam fee for CLAT?

The application fee is ₹4,000 for General/OBC/PWD candidates and ₹3,500 for SC/ST candidates.

4. Can I get into NLU Delhi through CLAT?

No. NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance exam called AILET (All India Law Entrance Test). You need to apply separately for AILET.

5. Is coaching necessary for CLAT?

Coaching is helpful but not mandatory. Many toppers have cracked CLAT through self-study using good books, mock tests, and newspaper reading. Consistency matters more than coaching.

6. When are CLAT 2026 results expected?

Results are usually declared within 2–3 weeks after the exam. Check the official CLAT website for exact dates.

7. What happens if I don't get an NLU in CLAT counselling?

Many private law colleges also accept CLAT scores. You can also appear for other law entrance exams like AILET, MH-CET Law, LSAT India, and state-level exams.

Related Guides

• UPSC Civil Services Exam Guide
• SSC CGL Exam Guide
• Government Jobs After Graduation

This guide is for informational purposes only. Always verify details from the official CLAT website before applying. Exam patterns, fees, and dates may change — check the latest notifications regularly.