The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test. Candidates have to appear for CLAT in order to gain admission into 5-year LLB and LLM programmes of participating NLUs. In CLAT 2026, there are 24 national law universities (NLUs) and one private university 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 2026 on December 7, 2025.
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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 post graduate law programmes of the participating NLUs.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| CLAT full form | Common Law Admission Test |
| Mode of exam | Offline mode |
| Medium of exam | English |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Participating NLUs | 24 NLUs |
| Seats | UG - 4054 PG - 1591 |
| Level of exam | National level |
| Frequency of conduct | Once every year |
| Application fee | Rs. 4000 for General/ OBC category, and Rs 3500 for all other reserved categories |
| Courses offered | 5-year LLB and one-year LLM |
To understand CLAT meaning and its purpose, it's good to look at brief history of the exam. The National Law Universities (NLUs) were created on the lines of IITs and IIMs to redefine the legal education system in the country. The National Law School of India University, Bangalore, set up in 1987, was the first NLU in the country and is the top NLU in the NIRF law rankings 2025. Today, there are 26 such National Law Universities
Ranked #18 amongst Institutions in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in India for Academic Reputation by QS Rankings | 16 LPA Highest CTC
Ranked 1 st among Top Law Schools of super Excellence in India - GHRDC | NAAC A+ Accredited | #36 by NIRF
Earlier, each university conducted its entrance test. This practice was challenged in court through a PIL filed by one parent. The PIL sought to introduce a single entrance exam for admission into various national law universities. Subsequently, 7 NLUs joined hands, and in 2008 conducted the first ever Common Law Admission Test. Subsequently, the number of universities that are part of the CLAT has risen to 24. RPNLU Prayagraj is the latest NLU to be part of the consortium. Other universities, such as the National Law University, Delhi still conduct their entrance exam.
CLAT Exam Details: CLAT Participating Universities
Given below are the participating universities in CLAT 2026. From last year, RPNLU Prayagraj also started accepting admissions into BA LLB programme based on CLAT scores.
Participating NLUs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | ||
2 | 14 | ||
3 | 15 | ||
4 | 16 | ||
5 | 17 | ||
6 | 18 | ||
7 | 19 | ||
8 | 20 | ||
9 | 21 | ||
10 | 22 | ||
11. | 23 | ||
12 | 24 | ||
| 25 | RPNLU Prayagraj | 26 | IIULER Goa |
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.
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. Further, candidates must also go through the individual websites of the colleges they wish to apply to in order to check their eligibility.
The eligibility criteria include details about age, and minimum qualification, among other things.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification | 10+2 or equivalent. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply. |
| Minimum passing marks | 45% for General / OBC / PWD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories 40% for SC/ST categories |
| Age limit | No age limit |
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification | 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply. |
| Minimum passing marks | 50% for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories 45% for SC/ST categories |
| Age Limit | No age limit |
Also Read: CLAT Vs AILET - Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern, Marks Distribution, Participating Institutes
The consortium prescribes the CLAT syllabus on its official website. Given below are the details of the syllabus of CLAT 2026 for UG and PG programmes.
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 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, 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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Subject Area | Number of Questions (New Pattern) | Total Marks | Marking scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
English Language | 22-26 questions | 22-26 | 1 mark per question. 0.25 negative marking for every wrong answer |
Current Affairs with 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 |
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 2026 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 PG 2026 Subjects | Important Topics |
Criminal Law | Elements of crime, Actus Reas and Mens Rea, group liability, abetment, criminal conspiracy, exceptions, attempt to commit offences, offences against public tranquility, offences against body – culpable homicide, murder, hurt, grievous hurt, wrongful confinement and wrongful restraint, criminal force, assault, abduction, kidnapping, rape & un-natural offences |
CLAT LLM Constitutional Law syllabus | Constitution law of India, definition, features, framing of Indian Constitution, doctrine of separation of power, executive power, nature of executive of India, relationship between President and Council of Minister, constitutional rights, Writ jurisdiction of HC and SC, freedom, right against social discrimination,
|
Public International Law | Definition, origin and development of international law, sources and subjects of International law, relationship between International and municipal law, state recognition, state succession, international rive and canals, international law of the sea, air, space, aerial navigation, outer space exploration and use, nationality statelessness, state jurisdiction, basis of jurisdiction, jurisdiction immunity, extradition and asylum, diplomatic and consular relations, law of treaties, war and use of force in International law, law of contraband & blockade, concept of war, legal effects of outbreak of war and enemy character, settlement of international disputes, state responsibility, retorsion, reprisals, Armed interventions with the role of United Nations |
Administrative Law | Definition and Significance Administrative law's scope and significance, the rule of law, and the definition and classification of administrative actions Natural justice principles: definition, nature, and necessity of administrative guidance; natural justice and statutory provisions; Control Mechanism for Adjudicatory, Procedural, and Parliamentary Delegated Law Administrative Adjudication; Administrative Discretion and Remedies; Legislation and its Development; Administrative Liability; Administrative Discretion and Enforcement; Administrative Guidance to Quasi-Judicial and Statutory Bodies; Principle of Estoppel Constitutional law's relationship to administrative law The Latest Developments in Administrative Law |
Law of Contracts | First of all, Fundamental components of an offer, acceptance, consideration, etc., Notification of Offer, Acceptance, and Offer and Acceptance Revocation, Wagering agreements and contingent contracts, consent, ability to enter into contracts, privity of contracts, element vitiating contracts, bailment, pledge-specific contracts, indemnity, guarantee, and agency, The Doctrine of Frustration and Force Majure |
Law of Torts | Overview of General Principles Tort: What is it? India's Law of Torts Origins, Winfield's Criticism, Injuria sine Damnum/Damnum sine Injuria Tortious Liability, Statutory Authority, Consent (Volenti nonfit Injuria), Several and Independent Tortfeasors, Joint Tortfeasors and Related Cases Defences in General, Acts of God, and Private Negligence, nuisance, and defamation, as well as strict liability, specific torts, and absolute liability, The concept of vicarious liability safeguarding consumers, The differences between multiple tortfeasor and joint tort |
Intellectual Property Rights | Nature, meaning, definition and scope of IPR, Trademarks Act 1999, Patents Act 1970, Copyright Act 1957, IPR in International Perspective |
Jurisprudence | Legal method, Indian Legal system, basic theory of law, Analytical positivism, Kelsen’s pure theory of law, Hart’s definition of law, Austin’s theory of law, definition of law by Holland and Salmond, different theoretical approaches to study law and jurisprudence – Historical and anthropological approach, Sociological approach, economic approach (Marx’s and Engel’s views about the law and state, realist approach – American and Scandinavian realism, |
Taxation law | First of all, domicile status, earnings from a salary, income not included in the total income, revenue from real estate, revenue from a career and business, indirect taxation Latest Changes to GST |
Labour & Industrial Law | Overview, Concept, and Theory of Industrial Relations, Industrial Disputes Act, The Factories Act, 1948, The Standing Orders Act, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020, Code on Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions 2020, Code on Wages 2020, An examination of recent labour law amendments and the key cases they involve |
Environmental Law | Summary of the Subject Acts 1974 about the prevention and control of pollution in water, 1981 regarding the prevention and control of pollution in air, and 1986 regarding the protection of the environment The Indian Forest Act of 1927, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the Public Liability Insurance Act of 1991, the Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006, the National Environment Tribunal Act of 1955, International Law of the Environment |
Family law | Maintenance (For both Muslim law and Hindu law), Judicial Separation, Divorces |
Property Law | Summary and Relevance of the Topic Property types, concepts of lease, exchange, gifting, wills, mortgages, etc., Take Actionable Allegations |
Company Law | Overview of the Companies Act, 2013's Doctrines under the Companies Act Directors, Meeting of Shareholders, Listing and Delisting of Shares, Closing, Answers to Assessments |
The CLAT PG 2026 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 mark for every incorrect response.
| Particulars | Number of questions | Total marks | Marking scheme |
| Different topics on law | 120 | 120 | 1 mark per question. 0.25 negative mark for every wrong answer |
Also, check - Colleges Accepting CLAT Score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The next CLAT exam date has not been notified. However, it will likely occur in the first week of December 2026.
The CLAT full form is Common Law Admission Test.
No, CLAT is not compulsory LLB. CLAT exam is conducted for admissions to law courses in NLUs.
CLAT aspirants must have passed their class 12. Candidates appearing for their class 12 exams are also eligible to apply.
Yes, CLAT is very reading intensive and most popular law entrance exams in India.
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.
Some NLUs such as the National Law University, Delhi conduct their own entrance exam.
The CLAT exam is conducted for admitting students to the 5 year BA LLB programme and 1 Year LLM programme.
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.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
For CLAT PG 2026 application :
Photograph: JPEG/JPG, 200x230 pixels, 20–50 KB, white/light background, recent passport-size photo.
Signature: JPEG/JPG, 140x60 pixels, 10–20 KB, sign on white paper with black ink, must match exam documents.
Hope it helps !
Hi dear candidate,
On our official website, you can find various study material EBooks and Sample Papers that can help you prepare better that you can download for free.
Kindly refer to the link attached below:
CLAT E-books and Sample Papers
CLAT Study Material 2026 PDF - Books, Mock Test, Question Papers
BEST REGARDS
Hello,
While NLUs are costly, you can still pursue government-funded law education through state-funded universities and their affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores, such as institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.
I hope it will clear your query!!
It is always better to take the CLAT exam right after Class 12 if your goal is to build a career in law, because CLAT UG is specifically designed for admission into integrated five-year law programs like BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB. Appearing after Class 12 saves you time, as you complete both graduation and law together in a single course. On the other hand, if you first complete graduation and then plan for law, you will not be eligible for CLAT UG but instead for CLAT PG, which is meant for admission into LLM programs. This path takes longer, because you first spend three or four years on graduation and then add another three years in an LLB program if you choose not to go for an integrated course. So, if you are already sure about pursuing law as your career, writing CLAT right after Class 12 is the smarter and time-saving option, while writing it after graduation makes sense only if you are considering higher studies in law or a shift in career later.
For CLAT, the most important topics are from Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK, the Indian Constitution, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. For a brief detail you can go through the following link: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-important-topics
Thank You.
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