CLAT 2026 Exam: Schedule, Guidelines, Bell Timings

CLAT 2026 Exam: Schedule, Guidelines, Bell Timings

Sansar Singh ChhikaraUpdated on 07 Dec 2025, 05:54 PM IST

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducted the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) exam 2026 today i.e. December 7, 2025. The CLAT 2026 unofficial answer key by Careers360 will be available shortly. Candidates who appeared for the exam will be able to check out their probable scores using the CLAT 2026 answer key. The CLAT exam was conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode, at more than 130 test centres across the country. The CLAT 2026 entrance exam is conducted for admissions to the participating National Law Universities (NLUs). Apart from the NLUs, over 60 law schools also accept CLAT scores. Read the complete article for CLAT 2026 exam day live updates, exam analysis, answer key updates and more.

CLAT 2026 Exam: Schedule, Guidelines, Bell Timings
CLAT 2026 Exam

CLAT 2026 Exam Schedule

Events

Dates

Last date to download CLAT admit card 2026

December 7, 2025 (till 1:30 pm)

CLAT 2026 exam date

December 7, 2025

Release of CLAT answer key

December 7, 2025 (Expected)

Important Guidelines for CLAT 2026 exam day

Here are some important exam day guidelines for CLAT 2026 exam:

  • Carry your CLAT admit card 2026 along with a verifiable photo ID proof.

  • Students need to reach the exam centre by 1 pm.

  • It is advisable to report at the exam centre by 1:30 pm.

  • The exam will begin at 2 pm sharp. However, It must be noted that no students will be allowed to enter the exam hall after 2:15 pm.

  • Candidates are allowed to carry black/blue ballpoint pen, transparent water bottle, their admit cards and id proof inside the exam hall.

  • Electronic items like calculators, mobile phones, smartwatches etc are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall.

  • Candidates will be allowed to retain their CLAT 2026 question paper and their signed admit cards.

CLAT 2026 Important Bell Timings

Time

Type of Bell

Purpose

1:00 P.M.

Long Bell

This bell marks the entry time for students to get inside the exam hall.

1:30 P.M.

Long Bell

After this bell students will be allowed to enter the exam hall.

1:50 P.M.

Short Bell

- Distribution of the sealed Envelopes

- Announcement of Instructions by the Invigilators

2:00 P.M.

Long Bell

The CLAT 2026 exam will start after this bell.

2:15 P.M.

Short Bell

After this bell, no candidate will be allowed to enter the test centre.

3:00 P.M.

Short Bell

This bell means one hour out of the two hours given to complete the exam.

3:50 P.M.

Short Bell

This is a warning Bell to indicate that 10 (ten) minutes are left for the test to end.

4:00 P.M.

Long Bell

This bell marks the completion of the exam.

Going by the trend of previous years, the CLAT 2026 answer key is usually released on the same day after the exam is over. The authorities also start the online window to raise objections soon after the release of the CLAT answer key.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Start preparing for CLAT by first understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, which includes English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Make a simple daily routine and begin with basics read newspapers regularly for current affairs, practice comprehension passages for English and legal sections, and solve basic

Hello

With an AIR of 9076 and EWS rank of 846 in CLAT 2026, getting a top NLUs is unlikely, which is why you didn’t get a seat in the first round. However, you still have some chances in lower-tier NLUs like NLU Odisha, NLU Assam, NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya,

Hello

With a CLAT 2026 score of 60.75, AIR 17,715, and OBC-NCL rank 3,347 as an out-of-Delhi candidate, getting a seat in the Faculty of Law, Delhi University is very unlikely. DU’s cut-offs for OBC candidates are usually much higher, even in later rounds. You should keep backup options like

Hello,

With AIR 10542 and OBC rank 1843, getting top NLUs is unlikely. However, you still have chances in newer or lower ranked NLUs like NLU Assam, NUSRL Ranchi, MNLU Nagpur/Mumbai, especially in later or vacancy rounds. Also consider good private law colleges as backup options.

Since you scored 8000 AIR in CLAT, getting into top NLUs may not be possible, so it is a good idea to look for affordable and good law colleges.


State government law colleges are usually low in fees, and have decent reputation. Some options include Government Law College, Mumbai, Faculty