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    CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus
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    • CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus

    CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus

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    Mirza Farhan BaigUpdated on 23 Jul 2026, 05:16 PM IST
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    The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test. Candidates have to appear for CLAT to gain admission into 3-year LLB, integrated 5-year LLB, and LLM programmes of participating NLUs. In CLAT 2027, there are 26 national law universities (NLUs) and IIULER Goa that conduct their admissions through the CLAT counselling process. Being a national-level law entrance exam, the scores of CLAT are also accepted by over 60 law schools in the country. The Consortium of NLUs will conduct CLAT 2027 on December 6, 2026. Over 60,000 candidates are expected to appear in the Common Law Admission Test. The exam will be held in over 130+ exam centres across 89 cities in the country. CLAT exam is for admission into the integrated law programmes and postgraduate law programmes of the participating NLUs.

    This Story also Contains

    1. CLAT Full Form - Highlights
    2. CLAT Exam Details: CLAT Participating Universities
    3. CLAT Exam - What is Consortium of National Law Universities?
    4. CLAT Exam Eligibility
    5. CLAT Syllabus
    CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus
    CLAT Full Form (Image by JComp on Freepik)

    CLAT Full Form - Highlights

    ParticularsDetails
    CLAT full formCommon Law Admission Test
    Mode of examOffline mode
    Medium of examEnglish
    Duration2 hours
    Participating NLUs26 NLUs and IIULER Goa
    SeatsUG - 4054
    PG - 1591
    Level of examNational level
    Frequency of conductOnce every year
    Application feeRs. 4000 for General/ OBC category, and Rs 3500 for all other reserved categories
    Courses offered5-year LLB and one-year LLM

    CLAT Exam Details: CLAT Participating Universities

    Given below are the participating universities in CLAT 2027. From last year, RPNLU Prayagraj also started accepting admissions into the BA LLB programme based on CLAT scores.

    Participating NLUs in CLAT

    CLAT Exam - What is Consortium of National Law Universities?

    The Consortium of National Law Universities was founded on August 19, 2017, to raise the standard of legal education in India and also improve the justice system by providing quality legal education and producing capable future lawyers and judges. The consortium is a legal entity registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, at Bengaluru. The group seeks to promote better coordination between the national law schools to deliver the highest quality of legal education in the country.

    CLAT Exam Eligibility

    The Consortium of NLUs has detailed the CLAT eligibility criteria for various UG and PG programmes on its official website. Any candidate desirous of taking the Common Law Admission Test should thoroughly go through the same. The eligibility criteria include details about age and minimum qualification, among other things.

    CLAT UG Eligibility Criteria

    ParticularsDetails
    Educational qualification10+2 or equivalent. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply.
    Minimum passing marks45% for General / OBC / PWD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories

    40% for SC/ST categories
    Age limitNo age limit
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    CLAT PG Eligibility Criteria

    ParticularsDetails
    Educational qualification3-year LLB or 5-year LLB. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply.
    Minimum passing marks50% for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories
    45% for SC/ST categories
    Age LimitNo age limit
    CLAT Sample Paper 2027 with Answer Key
    Download CLAT 2027 sample paper PDF with the latest exam pattern. Practice descriptive questions, improve accuracy, and strengthen your preparation for the upcoming CLAT exam.
    Download Ebook

    Also Read: CLAT Vs AILET - Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern, Marks Distribution, Participating Institutes

    CLAT Syllabus

    The consortium prescribes the CLAT syllabus on its official website. Given below are the details of the syllabus of CLAT 2027 for UG and PG programmes.

    UG-CLAT Exam Syllabus

    The CLAT UG exam syllabus covers 5 different sections, namely English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. There will be 120 questions in the CLAT UG paper. Each question carries 1 mark. For each incorrect response, 0.25 marks will be deducted as negative marks. The duration of the exam is two hours.

    CLAT 2027 Section-wise Details

    • CLAT English Language: In this section, the candidate will encounter a set of passages of around 450 words each that cover both fictional and non-fictional topics, and have a difficulty level of 12th grade. The candidate has to answer questions based on the passages to show their level of understanding of the text.

    • Current Affairs: This section requires the candidates to answer questions based on passages that are derived from newspapers and other journalistic sources. The questions test the candidate’s awareness of current affairs and general knowledge

    • CLAT Legal Reasoning: In this section, the candidate will encounter passages of around 450 words that revolve around public policy, legal matters, and philosophical enquiries. The passages are followed by questions that test their ability to identify principles set out in the passage, apply these rules to real situations, and also assess how a change in principles will change their application to the real world.

    • Logical Reasoning: In this section, the candidate, after reading a given passage, has to answer questions that demand drawing inferences, recognising and forming arguments, and identifying patterns of relationships between different arguments.

    • Quantitative Techniques: This section includes questions that are based on brief statements of fact or textual or visual representations of numerical data. The candidate has to extrapolate data from these texts, graphs, or other representations and perform mathematical calculations on it.

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    CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2027

    Subject Area

    Number of Questions (New Pattern)Total MarksMarking scheme

    English Language

    22-26 questions22-261 mark per question. 0.25 negative marking for every wrong answer

    Current Affairs with General Knowledge

    28-32 questions28-32

    Legal Reasoning

    28-32 questions28-32

    Logical Reasoning

    22-26 questions22-26

    Quantitative Techniques

    10-14 questions10-14

    CLAT PG Exam Syllabus

    The syllabus for the postgraduate course focuses on the subject expertise of the aspiring candidates. The CLAT LLM Exam syllabus will test the candidate’s proficiency in different areas of law and test their suitability to pursue a postgraduate law program. The CLAT PG exam pattern 2027 consists of 120 questions, and the candidate will get a total of 120 minutes to attempt the questions. Each question carries one mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect response.

    CLAT LLM Syllabus Topics 2027

    SubjectImportant Topics
    Criminal LawElements of crime, mens rea, actus reus, group liability, abetment, conspiracy, attempt, general exceptions, offences against the body and public tranquillity, kidnapping, abduction, rape and unnatural offences
    Constitutional LawConstitution of India, separation of powers, executive and legislative powers, constitutional rights, writ jurisdiction, judiciary, federalism, inter-state trade and commerce, emergency provisions
    Public International LawSources and subjects of international law, state recognition and succession, law of the sea, air and space law, nationality, jurisdiction, extradition, asylum, diplomatic relations, treaties, use of force, international disputes and state responsibility
    Administrative LawRule of law, administrative actions, natural justice, delegated legislation, administrative adjudication, discretion, remedies, liability, estoppel and recent developments
    Law of ContractsOffer, acceptance, consideration, revocation, capacity, consent, privity, contingent and wagering contracts, bailment, pledge, indemnity, guarantee, agency, frustration and force majeure
    Law of TortsGeneral principles, tortious liability, defences, negligence, nuisance, defamation, strict and absolute liability, vicarious liability, joint and independent tortfeasors
    Intellectual Property RightsNature and scope of IPR, Trademarks Act, Patents Act, Copyright Act and international aspects of IPR
    JurisprudenceLegal theory, Indian legal system, analytical positivism, Austin, Kelsen, Hart, Holland, Salmond, historical, sociological, economic and realist approaches
    Taxation LawDomicile, salary income, exempt income, income from house property, business and profession income, indirect taxation and GST
    Labour & Industrial LawIndustrial relations, Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act, Standing Orders Act, labour codes of 2020 and recent amendments
    Environmental LawWater, Air and Environment Protection Acts, forest and wildlife laws, public liability, forest rights and international environmental law
    Family LawMaintenance under Hindu and Muslim law, judicial separation and divorce
    Property LawTypes of property, lease, exchange, gift, wills and mortgages
    Company LawCompanies Act, 2013, corporate doctrines, directors, shareholder meetings, listing and delisting, and winding up

    CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2027

    The CLAT PG 2027 exam pattern consists of 120 questions, and the candidate will get a total of 120 minutes to attempt the questions. Each question carries one mark, while there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect response.

    CLAT PG 2027 Exam Pattern

    ParticularsNumber of questionsTotal marksMarking scheme
    Different topics on law1201201 mark per question. 0.25 negative mark for every wrong answer

    Also, check - Colleges Accepting CLAT Score

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: When is the next CLAT exam?
    A:

    The next CLAT exam date is December 6, 2026.

    Q: What is the CLAT full form?
    A:

    The CLAT full form is Common Law Admission Test.

    Q: What is CLAT exam eligibility?
    A:

    CLAT aspirants must have passed Class 12. Candidates appearing for their Class 12 exams are also eligible to apply.

    Q: Is CLAT very difficult?
    A:

    Yes, CLAT is very reading intensive and most popular law entrance exams in India.

    Q: What is CLAT exam eligibility?
    A:

    Candidates must have cleared or appearing for the 12th grade exam to be eligible for CLAT UG while CLAT PG is open to LLB graduates.

    Q: Do all NLUs admit students through CLAT?
    A:

    Some NLUs such as the National Law University, Delhi conduct their own entrance exam.

    Q: For which courses can one gain admission through CLAT exam?
    A:

    The CLAT exam is conducted for admitting students to the 5 year BA LLB programme and 1 Year LLM programme.

    Q: What is the full from CLAT?
    A:

    The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test which is an entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission into UG and PG programmes offered by participating universities.

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    Questions related to CLAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CLAT ?

    Hello Dear Student,
    With a CLAT AIR of 19,688 as an OBC candidate, your chances of securing a seat in regular counselling rounds are extremely low. Your best prospects lie in participating in the vacant seats/spot rounds of universities that feature regional or state quotas, specifically the Tamil Nadu National

    Hello Student,

    Can you please clarify as to what are you trying to ask?


    Dear Student,

    There are several colleges from where you can pursue a law programme at a loo fee. Some of the colleges for 3-year LLB are as follows:

    • Lucknow University (Rs 28,000)
    • BHU Varanasi (Rs 45,000)
    • Dr BR Ambedkar College of Law, Visakhapatnam (Rs 60,000)

    Check other colleges here :

    Hello Dear Student,

    Yes, you are eligible to pursue a 5-year BA LLB program. The Bar Council of India has removed the upper age limit for admission to integrated law courses, and NIOS is a recognized board. If you are not appearing for CLAT , you can apply to several